The recent earthquake in Japan, which caused extensive damage to the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear facility on the northeast shore of Japan, has pointed to a serious problem here in America. No, it is not a problem with our Nuclear power facilities. It is instead a far more serious problem - Ignorance. Americans are some of the most ignorant people in the world. In general the average American almost totally lacks real understanding of most issues that face this country and the world. Most Americans get their information from an even more ignorant source, the news media; a case of the blind leading the blind. Whenever the average American hears the word Nuclear or Radiation (or heaven forbid the two words together in one sentence) there is an almost immediate negative response. It is response based not on any fact but on ignorance, akin to the fear of darkness. Yes, the disaster at the Japanese Nuclear facility is significant and will have a long term impact on Japan, its people, its economy, and its nuclear industry. But to immediately to jump to the wild ass conclusion, fuel by the Obama and the media, that Americans are (or may be) at risk to exposure to radiation from Japan is just plain irresponsible.
The systems used to monitor radiation levels are so sensitive that they can detect levels far below that which is considered a minor health risk and as such they have no trouble detecting the minuscule amounts of radiation that has reached this country from Japan - it was inevitable. The news media, rather than just saying - No Health Risk To Americans from Japanese Nuclear Disaster, they instead say, Increased Radiation Levels Detected on West Coast from Japanese Nuclear Disaster, and one has to read the entire article to find out that the increased radiation levels are far below what the Government considers are minimal risk. In the mean time the average American has run to their local pharmacy and bought up all of the Iodine pills they can, not realizing that radioactive iodine is just one component of a stew of potential radiation risks, that if actually a significant health risk would not be mitigated by talking iodine.
The true threat to America from the Japanese disaster will not come in the form of increased exposure to harmful levels of radiation but from the anti-nuclear groups, which fuel the nuclear hysteria. From almost the second that the nuclear disaster began the news media speaking on behalf of the anti-nuke groups began attacking America's nuclear industry. Even congress people have started calling for a moratorium on further nuclear power plants - none have been built since the late '70s. All of this uproar is a result of mass ignorance and is not based on one shred of scientific evidence.
This country lacks a comprehensive energy policy based on sound scientific and economic principles. The Obama, as the current head of state is often blamed for our poor energy status, and well he should be, given that his proposed policy is juvenile and based on ignorance of our country's energy needs, production capabilities, and technologies; windmills and solar cells does not an energy policy make. But, the Obama is not alone in this regard, every president starting with Carter has miss managed America's energy policy. America needs nuclear energy. Even if battery technology advances far enough to make the electric car more viable (and cheaper) it will still need a source of electricity to charge the batter cells. The electricity has to come from somewhere. Right now most of it comes from coal and natural gas fired power plants. Simple arithmetic shows that the amount of wind turbines or solar cells needed to equal the output of current nuclear power facilities is staggering and will immediately result in the NIMBY response from even the most ardent Green Energy supporters.
When it comes to serious issues facing America, it is time for Americans to educate themselves. The first step is to stop listening to the news - all news from the State Run Media and Fox. When it comes to real issues they are all Bad - yes, with a capital "B." It is time for an informed America.
