[Marxism] "Power to Save the World: The Truth About Nuclear Energy"

[Louis Proyect]

David Walters wrote:
> Except Louis, the point of the actual post was about NON-Marxists who 
> used to be opposed to nuclear energy such as the ones mentioned: Stuart 
> Brand, Patrick Moore, James Lovelock, and Bishop Hugh Montefiore. They 
> are noted for their environmentalism and their historic contribution to it.

Yes, but it is of some interest that you are the only person on this 
1000+ mailing list that has the distinctly odd position on nuclear power 
that you do. (I have no idea where Rod Holt is nowadays.) But on the 
mailing list that preceded this one, you would have been on the same 
side as Rolf Martens and James Heartfield. I'd really think hard about 
being pro-nuke in light of this.

> If I were to resort to the childish antics of looking at who your allies 
> are, when you quote "notorious" Marxists on this or that position that 
> are totally irrelevant to the debate at hand, it would be entitled "Day 
> of the Red Herring". If I'm going to discuss, say, Ralph Nader and 
> implications of his candidacy in past and future elections (BTW, he was 
> on the Bill Maher show last light) should I point out that he a similiar 
> position on a womens right to choose as the Right to Life groups? See 
> the point?

People can check out Nader's statements on abortion here:

http://www.ontheissues.org/2004/Ralph_Nader_Abortion.htm

He endorses the right to use RU-486, a position hardly in sync with that 
of the Catholic Church.

> We are discussing the issues of nuclear energy, and, its very real 
> recent resurgence. If you are going to debate it seriously, based on 
> it's value, or not, to the future of humanity, then cheap, and rather 
> *stupid* comparisons of who supports or opposes it is irrelevant.

I am opposed to nuclear power under capitalism. For that matter, I don't 
waste time coming up with solutions to the energy crisis under 
capitalism, including wind power, etc. We need to emphasize the 
irrationality of energy use and commodity production under capitalism. 
Beyond that, I completely solidarize myself with struggles against the 
building of nuclear power such as the one that the Clamshell Alliance 
led in California against Seabrook--no matter what Homer Simpson says.