Japan Disaster Reignites U.S. Nuclear Energy Debate

I totatlly agree with Schaefer and we should drill more mine more and build more nuclear plants while at the same time encouraging new forms of green engergy. There should be better safety inspections, but the energy is there and we would not be spending and sending our money overseas,We have the safety rules in place and our industries are safer than the rest of the world we just do not have qualified inpectors, anyone who becomes an inpector should have had to work in the field for at least ten years and should have started at the bottom, then they would know what to loook for and what it takes to insure a safe working enviroment. I have worked in the offshore construction, offshore drilling, and onland in the oilfield and I can assure you that the rules are there for safety, it is when they are not followed that disaster happens!

Charles of TX 3:02PM March 23, 2011

"Them!", "The Day the Earth Stood Still", "The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms" and "Godzilla" all showed a world scared sh--less by nuclear energy.

But you can't blame 1950's movie producers - Heck, we were setting off nukes like firecrackers back then. Here's a partial list of above ground and underwater detonations:

1. Operation Red Wing about 100 blasts in the Pacific.

2. In the Sahara France lit off about 40 nukes.

3. At Novaya Zemlya the Ruskies detonated over 50 nukes - the biggest ever!

4. France and England exploded 10 or more in the Pacific.

5. The U.S. Army popped about a 100 nukes in New Mexico and Nevada - often with human guinea pigs as close range observers. Yuck!

6. China and France were even settin'em off above ground into the 80's.

So, what's the rumpus about a little fizzling steam out of a power plant?

Besides, all of our current plants are old school - built "back in the day". We can make 'em better now.

For Christ's sake! We haven't built a nuclear plant since 1966 - I don't know about you, but I'm thinkin' we've moved ahead technologically (though not musically) since The Temptations released, "Ain't Too Proud To Beg". Boy, I sure miss the "Motown Sound". Don't you?

Also, we gotta admit that, windmills, solar panels or fairy-dust are not going to do the job. So, unless we want to crawl back to the caves we need to utilize everything; coal, shale, natural gas, nuclear, hydroelectric, oil, hydrogen and "green energy.

Another thing, Global Warming might be a really good thing. I mean, more stuff grows at the Equator than in frozen tundra. Don't believe me? Check it our yourself. Plant some seeds in your freezer and some in a greenhouse - see which grow big and strong...See what I mean? And hey, you have to admit that Global Warming got us out of that last Ice Age - you don't want to live on "Snowball Earth", do you? I'd say that sittin' under a palm tree is better'n sittin' under a glacier. See what I mean?

We need to drill more offshore too. You ought to check out studies done by U.C. Santa Barbara (not some right wing think tank). Anyway, they found that "natural seepage is the primary cause of oil pollution in the sea, and that oil drilling actually relieves the pressure under the seabed and prevents even more oil from leaking into the ocean. So let's do the right thing and poke some more holes, keeps that oil off our feet at the beach.

How'bout this? From 1970 to present wind energy has claimed the lives of 35 American workers, and caused dozens of wild fires - Nuclear energy, none. Now, consider that nuclear produces 17% of our energy needs - wind <2%. That means a lot'a people die per yotta watt produced. Also, each year thousands die from stuff like electricity, fire, natural gas, coal mine and dam disasters - bummer.

So, watch "Dr. Strangelove" and relax. Just keep an eye on your precious bodily fluids - fluoridation can really mess 'em up - just drink rain water and pure grain alcohol.

R.L. Schaefer of CA 4:08PM March 22, 2011