All the nuclear threads here are the same, and they're all deeply frustrating. HN isn't exactly a bastion of liberal speech (here fucked up conservative hot takes reign supreme) - but ostensibly the populace is more technically literate than average. Yet it's the same stupid bullshit every time.
It's dangerous!!11!! fukushima! chernobyl!1!!
> nope look at some statistics it's very safe
ok, the waste!11! scary spicy rocks!! glowing cats! landscape of thorns!!11
> nope just bury it like finland, or leave it in the pool
ok ok only finland is special enough to dig holes for spicy rocks
> ...
it's expensive!!!11! it's too expensive!! the future is wind turbines and solar panels and turning bolivia into a giant battery
I wish I could upvote your comment a hundred times.
I am astonished to see such technically literate populace just repeating mainstream bullshit propaganda instead of having their own thoughts.
And it's not only regarding the nuclear but also about many other topics, especially politically charged.
HN is surprisingly conservative sometimes. I see plenty of anti vaxxer takes, subtle and less than subtle transphobia, and general empathy lacking libertarian attitudes
We've had nuclear power for 70 years and it hasn't exactly stopped CO2 emissions or made electricity too cheap to meter, and is much the same deal as it was 20 years ago.
Solar etc. on the other hand is growing rapidly and exponentially.
what are you talking about the nuclear power plants of the world have prevented gigatons of CO2 emissions and could have gone a lot further if the decision makers weren't a bunch of nincompoops who share a bed with the oil lobby.
Up from 5 bn tons a year when nuclear power started around 1950 to 35 bn tons now. I think the Elon Musk type strategies have more promise. Not to say we shouldn't have nuclear but it still has the same problems it always had - slow to build, expensive, unpopular.
Does a hypereducated liberal democracy even work in the long run, or will a morally relativist people aloof from reality argue over lifeboats and bilge pumps forever until the ship sinks and they all drown?
It's dangerous!!11!! fukushima! chernobyl!1!!
> nope look at some statistics it's very safe
ok, the waste!11! scary spicy rocks!! glowing cats! landscape of thorns!!11
> nope just bury it like finland, or leave it in the pool
ok ok only finland is special enough to dig holes for spicy rocks
> ...
it's expensive!!!11! it's too expensive!! the future is wind turbines and solar panels and turning bolivia into a giant battery
The water is lapping at our feet. We are doomed.