Reply #98: I hear what you are saying from a technological and scientific

[GumboYaYa]

perspective. Absent any catastrophic accidents (which you say is a very remote possibility in light of current technlogy), nuclear power has a much less significant impact on the environment than oil and gas power. At least nuclear power production does not pump CO2 into the environment. In the category of meaningless anecdotal evidence, Florida crocodiles are flourishing in the nuclear water run off canals.

From a sociological perspective, I dislike any power generating system that allows us to continue to live detached lifes in suburbia insulated from people who are different in skin color, religion, and economic status. In some respects I welcome the coming energy crisis as it may cause us to reexamine our current culture of consumption. To me the cultural impact of cheap energy is at least as damaging as the environmental impact.

Unfortunately, I think that people will grasp for whatever straws are available to maintain the current materialistic standard of living that a significant segment of our culture enjoys, nuclear being the most obvious of those choices.

Forgive me if I continue to rail against nuclear energy and play devil's advocate as to the potential dangers of the technology. Now that you have educated me more on the subject my objection is primarily sociological and not technological, with the exception that I'm not particularly comforted by the view that we might as well let nukes loose on the world b/c they'll get them anyway. While that is probably a true assessment of the human condition and the conflict of national interests, it is not particularly comforting.

Even if the world goes nuclear, the transition will be painful. As oil and gas supplies dwindle the cost of gasoline will skyrocket. There is no way to build the needed nuclear reactors and fleet of electric vehicles required to replace gasoline burning cars fast enough. The shockwaves through the economy will most likely result in severe recession. Perhaps, that experience alone will cause us to become more conservative. People who have lived without have a much greater appreciation for conserving that which they have. If you know anyone who survived the Great Depression, then you know exactly what I mean.