In the so far losing but good cause of American civil defense, there has always been a strange dichotomy. Polls have shown for decades that more than 80% of the American public favors civil defense (50% erroneously believe that the United States has a civil defense), and Congress continues, even today, to spend about $400 million annually on civil defense for themselves and other bureaucrats and politicians. Yet most politicians consider civil defense to be a dead issue, because they believe that the public doesn't want it.
This dichotomy apparently exists for nuclear power, too. The Atom, July / August 1993, 429, pp 25-27 reports a survey of Ameri-can opinion about nuclear power by the US Council for Energy Awareness. In answer to the question, "Practically speaking, how important a role do you think nuclear energy should play in meeting America's future energy needs?,'' 73% of ordinary Americans answered "quite important or very important.'' 72% of US opinion leaders, from legislators to the media, answered "quite important or very important'' to the same question.
Yet, in guessing the response of ordinary Americans, only 25% of these same opinion leaders expected "an important role'' response from even as few as 50% of Americans. 63% thought that the majority of Americans would say that nuclear energy should not play an important role.
Keeping this misunderstanding in place is the most important priority of the anti-nuclear lobby. If you wonder why the voices of the anti-nukes are so shrill and their tactics and logic so irrational, the answer lies partly in these polls. If this issue is ever allowed to settle into a reasoned debate, not only the facts about nuclear power but also the facts about public preferences will dominate the outcome.
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Vol. 21, No. 3
Newsletter: Access to Energy Newsletter Archive Volume: Issues Issue/No.: Vol. 21, No. 3 Date: November 01, 1993 05:47 PM Title: The Euthanasia Act of 1994
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