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Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!duke!unc!mcnc!unc-c!dya
From: dya@unc-c.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.physics
Subject: Re: nuclear fission, safety, politics
Message-ID: <1113@unc-c.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 30-Sep-83 20:32:32 EDT
Article-I.D.: unc-c.1113
Posted: Fri Sep 30 20:32:32 1983
Date-Received: Sun, 2-Oct-83 02:15:17 EDT
Lines: 31

References: ecsvax.1310


Full-Name: David Anthony

     Here ! Here ! Finally, another human being who can comment rationally
about a needlessly overworked issue.  Of course, no one wants to get irradiated,
just as no one wants any other unfortunate consequence to deprive people of
life or limb. However (this might be getting a bit political for net.physics)
the main problem is that nuclear technology has been built up solely (well,
mostly) on value-free scientific judgements.  That is (as Marcuse would say)
the forum in which scientific enquiry and judgement does not carry anything
other than its intrinsic value, yea or nay.
     What I want to know is how a bunch of civilly disobedient pseudointellectuals came to have such a profound understanding of an incredibly simple, but
incredibly misunderstood, issue.
     Furthermore, why does such a technologically advanced society have a
political system which is based solely on value judgements; even when cost-
benefit analysis (or other scientific methods ) could yield the superior
result.
     If those who really understand nuclear power and the diminuitive risk
which it poses to society (very diminuitive, compared from dying from a
subdural haemotoma after striking one's head on the tub after slipping in
it) want it, why aren't they active in the political process?
     What we see from those who are civilly disobedient is nothing more
than anti-technological backlash. They have found an issue which is emotionally
laden, and are exploting it not on the merits, but something else which
I cannot identify.  Those who cannot cope with rapid progress oppose it.
     Enuf said.


                         .....duke!mcnc!unc-c!dya