Your Teacher Said What?!, by Joe & Blake Kernen

 

"My teacher says the recession is the banks' fault."
"And my teacher says it's `cause we care too much about buying stuff, and it might not be so bad if we stopped."

This book warns that liberal Progressive confusions are frequently fostered by the public education system - counter to basic, useful education - counter to American constitutional principles - counter to common sense economics.

Instead of developing thinking skills, teachers often provide opinions. Education should prepare children for self-responsibility, not dependency.

Explains common economic terms and issues. References historical figures and current personalities influencing economic-political issues. Explores the difficulties of explaining capitalism to kids and preparing them for the defense of political rights.

Illustrates the fallacy of environmentalism's theme "that we are always running out of stuff," by noting that the "Stone Age didn't end because we ran out of stones."

Demonstrates that ten-year-olds are "natural Progressives" - not responsible for producing or earning their food, shelter, etc., and accepting lives controlled by authorities.

Progressivism "depends on treating adults like kids. Because kids love regulation." Rules according to subjective opinions - with no thought of unintended consequences.

The "hallmark of Progressivism . . . defining true efficiency not as the most goods and services at the lowest cost but as a socially desirable amount." Produced and redistributed "somehow" according to elite understanding of what is good for society and the environment.

Illustrates how progressives tend to substitute emotionalism for reasoning in political issues, fostering force over cooperation and individual rights.

Even mentions Willie Wonka and Ayn Rand characters as exemplifying the "virtues of free-market capitalism."

Kernen falls short at times in defending individual rights, having some common Christian-Conservative views, rather than being a full defender of individualism. However, a very useful, often insightful book.

Easter Island -- a perfect symbol

Easter Island – Perfect symbol for Obama’s centrally planned economy. 

Massive infrastructures, misallocations of resources, no property rights, no production. 

Novels & Films

Stories I’ve enjoyed with a focus on productive characters engaged in business, engineering, or science achievements.

(Excludes pure action characters (military, cops, etc.) and pure service characters (lawyers, doctors, etc.) unless focused on innovation, as per Kurt Keefner’s idea).

NOVELS

        Female
               Atlas Shrugged  (Dagny Taggart, Hank Rearden),  by Ayn Rand
               So Big  (Selina De Jong),  by Edna Ferber
               O Pioneers!  (Alexandra Bergson),  by Willa Cather
               Trading In Danger  (Kylara Vatta),  by Elizabeth Moon
               Tale of the Wind  (3 generations of women),  by Kay Nolte Smith

        Male

               The Fountainhead  (Howard Roark),  by Ayn Rand               
               Calumet “K”  (Charlie Bannon),  by Merwin Webster
               Tai Pan  (Dirk Struan), by James Clavell
               Noble House  (Ian Dunross),  by James Clavell

FILMS

        Female
               Atlas Shrugged, Part I  (Dagny Taggart, Hank Rearden)
               Hobson’s Choice  (Maggie)
               Contact  (Eleanor "Ellie" Arroway)
               Baby Boom  (J.C. Wiatt)
               Working Girl  (Tess McGill)
               Lucy Gallant
               A League of Their Own

               Based on fact:

                       Miracle Worker  (Anne Sullivan)
                       Madam Curie
                        Sister Kenny

        Male

               Other People’s Money  (Lawrence Garfield)
               Executive Suite  (Don Walling)
               Cash McCall  (Cash McCall)
               Thunder Bay  (Steve Martin)
               Boom Town  (John McMasters, John Sand)
               Sabrina  (Linus Larrabee)
               No Highway In The Sky  (Theodore Honey)

               Based on fact:

                       Dispatch From Reuters  (Paul Reuter)
                       First of the Few/Spitfire  (R.J. Mitchell)  
                       Edison, The Man  (Thomas Edison)


NON-FICTION -- people doing it their way.
             Women In The Wild Blue,  by David A. Stallman
             Mean and Lowly Things,  by Kate Jackson
             Women of Discovery,   by Milbry Polk, Mary Tiegreen
             Chess Bitch,  by Jennifer Shahade
             Breaking Through,  by Susan Polgar
             Attacking Chess,  by Josh Waitzkin
            

Additions and criticism welcome.

The Rape of the Masters: How Political Correctness Sabotages Art, by Roger Kimball

Amazing. Similar to the "Killing of History," showing how similar tactics are applied in the art world. Illustrates how modern art historians and interpreters are engaged in replacing actual experiencing of art with theories of art, political relevance, the commentator's free associations - in short, with text, rather than visual response and contemplation of the actual presentation.

A related goal of the intelligentsia of this ilk is to present emotions as superior to the intellect, specifically as guides and motivators to producing, understanding, and appreciating art (and, by extension, life in general - including politics).

The irrational lengths these critics go to is bewildering; and that they are accepted in so many circles is frightening. Shows a widespread lack of intellectual discrimination.

The author provides an entertaining illustration of how postmodernism is the deadend of irrationalism. Denying the usefulness of reason even for its own ideas. All it leaves is emotionalism. Western culture appears to be on a slippery slope of intellectual incompetence, plunging into a dark age (bloody and mystical), or, hopefully, a rebirth of the Enlightenment spirit of reason will emerge thanks to books such as this.

The Killing of History: How Literary Critics and Social Theorists are Murdering Our Past, by Keith Windschuttle

Thank you for The Killing of History, an intellectual, historical, and literary treat. I am giving copies for Xmas, both for their enjoyment and hoping they will help parents and kids counter some of the nonsense students are exposed to. Your examples of fraudulent, incompetent history accepted at universities in the name of political correctness and diversity demonstrate the undermining of true education.

You mention Foucault's neglect of crediting sources he likely drew upon and you discuss his argument that the medical model applied to psychology has been used to repress unconventional attitudes and lifestyles. Dr. Thomas Szasz argued against the misuses of the medical model much more cogently and accurately in his The Myth of Mental Illness, published in 1961, two years before the Foucault work you cited. Moreover, Szasz was not trying to argue that minds are incompetent tools.

I appreciate the discussion of the issue of theory coloring observations, and in particular history. It occurs to me that those who maintain that theory is controlling in every observation, must also maintain that, since dogs observe, dogs must have theories? Else, they are maintaining that only beings with theories (conceptual thought) are unable to accurately observe reality? Whereas, beings with only perceptual thought can do quite well? I suppose they want to say that anyone who puts an observation into language necessarily uses theory and cannot distinguish perception from conception? The implication is that reason is not a means of knowledge, subject to error and error correction, but is necessarily a distortion of reality. This in essence seems the view of Kant and all of his various followers, who, while usually touted as supporters of reason, are actually anti-reason -- reversing cause and effect, and encouraging a reliance on emotions as knowledge.

An issue you did not address is what makes these intellectually dishonest fools influential in our culture? Thinkers like yourself are self-made, through years of effort in building a hierarchy of objective values, in refining methodologies, and in identifying and resolving confusions. How is it that a seemingly increasing percentage of people in universities fail to develop these virtues and values?

Obviously, their failure is not an act of effort, but of lack of effort. What these people have is a default, non-intellectual morality of tribal collectivism and altruism. This cannot be defended rationally; so, only irrationality will do for them. Their emotions tell them so. To paraphrase Ayn Rand: They cannot build, but they must act; so, they only destroy.

I suggest that the central influence in the last hundred years in intellectually and morally crippling students is the increasing government support for schools and universities. With financial support comes political influence on textbooks, teacher qualifications, teacher unionization, and forced attendance in approved institutions.

It is government influence that creates the jobs and pulpits for fools and intellectual failures, whether in the arts, science, or education. In a degenerative cycle, with progressive generations the citizens, the government, and the schools get worse. The resulting culture is one which has degenerated into fostering postmodernism philosophy. Would any of the promoters of such nonsense find jobs and pulpits if they had to rely on support from private citizens?

In the Europe of past centuries, government money and influences supported religions and schools that promoted religious teachings, else these teachings would not have been so influential. Today, governments are promoting the religions of environmentalism, multiculturalism, relativism, collectivism, etc.

Early Greek Lawgivers (Classical World) , by John Lewis

Quick, easy, interesting survey of the emergence of the concepts of justice and equality under law, rather than privileges of aristocracy and princes. Tracing the history of dispute resolution from Homer thru Hesiod to Dracon on to Solon, Lewis shows that while Solon was not the first to wrestle with the issues, he first put forth sufficiently consistent and comprehensive general principles and procedures, with the support of Athenian culture of 6th century BCE, which eventually brought Athens to the pinnacle of Greek culture.

Solon recognized that citizens individually, of all classes and authority, must develop the same sense of justice and lawfulness - notions of what constitutes justice, just procedures, and the value of living by laws - for a populace to prosper and survive without disruptive social strife.

The hubris of officials destroys justice and creates strife. The ability to initiate legal action to correct wrong doing must be open to everyone, not only the aggrieved. Parties must have rights of appeal. Ending slavery for Greeks (e.g., debt slavery).

(All difficult enough for a city-state. How it is possible for large nations is another complexity. Forced education to instill effective reasoning and ethics being a contradiction.)

Dred Scott's Revenge: A Legal History of Race and Freedom in America, by Andrew P. Napolitano

Without agreeing with all of Judge Napolitano's characterizations, the real theme of this book is timely and essentially illustrated: the theory of positive law, once applied to justify slavery, is now applied to all citizens. The theory of law once used to deny the rights of some is now used to deny the rights of all.

The Beautiful Tree: A Personal Journey Into How The World's Poorest People Are Educating Themselves, by James Tooley

Interesting and challenging travels around the world, discovering an abundance of true modern education being demanded and delivered to the poor by small time entrepreneurs - in spite of governments, aid agencies, and education "experts."

The corruption and incompetence of public education systems the world over can be illuminating to the problems of American and British systems as well.

The lesson: Get your child out of any public system and into private instruction by any means possible.

The insight: Aid experts, agency authorities, liberal intellectuals, politicians have unjustified, rationalistic contempt for the poor, considering them essentially sub-human, unable to judge results for themselves, having no personal values and goals for themselves or their children, and needing to have the wisdom and policies of their betters forced upon them. Empirical evaluation of this assumption and the consequences of policies is not needed - only more tax money.

Commercial schools and teachers are typically more able and more committed to educating children than state certified ones. Motivated by their desire to win customers and the respect of their communities.

Tooley fails to generalize his understanding to the benefits and morality of capitalism (free choice, trade) to all areas of life. Perhaps he is focusing on one battle at a time?

Assisting with Tooley's work and the publication of this book alone justifies the existence of the Cato Institute - not to mention their many other valuable publications.

I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings, by Maya Angelou

A life of self-reliance and achievement. Filled with insightful analogies and imagery reminiscent of Shakespeare. First of five short volumes in her biographical series. Each more adventurous and courageous than the last. Intelligent, captivating, first hand view of Black history from the Depression years and the lynching of Blacks to the anti-discrimination movements of the '60s. Earning her way, though many tribulations, from impoverished childhood in Arkansas to actions and respect on the world stage: America, Europe, Africa. An almost unbelievable cast of characters and experiences in between, courageously written. Including a view of American life beyond the Black experience not to be missed.

While not a large part of the story, we see how the development of religious and socialist leanings are natural to her experiences of hardship and discrimination. At the same time, she recognizes that while "we may all be black, we are not cousins." Each must assume self-responsibility.

Also interesting is the obviously superior grade school educational she received, even in segregated, rural Arkansas, over schools today,. Though much of the credit is due to her own active intellect and reading.

The Jonkheer's Wife, by John Landrum

Mostly, the plight, heroism, and integrity of a woman with small children, whose large home is commandeered for a German district headquarters in Holland. Her husband soon stranded in England will spend the years of the war trying to get back to her, giving us a larger picture of the war Allied effort. One interesting chapter title: "The Strangest People In the World," Americans, of course.

Part of the story background is the insightful depiction of those who welcomed the supposed ideals of Nazism early in the invasion, the true believing German commander, the progressive corruption of troops and administrators as force and "might makes right" takes precedence over individual freedom and rights. Finally the years bring a bureaucratization of Nazism, institutionalizing faceless brutality and injustice, which is worse than the thugs. Worth reading for this alone.

While the German commander's admiration for her grows, a nice touch is his slow realization of how his ideals have been corrupted, in spite of his efforts. He can no longer see himself or his mission as one of honor. (This is reminiscent of Ayn Rand's "We The Living," when the revolutionary hero comes to grasp the true nature of his communist ideals in practice.)

There is more adventure and entertainment than you might imagine from the setting and circumstances. The Jonkheer's wife is not your ordinary woman. Or man, for that matter.

Black Rednecks and White Liberals, by Thomas Sowell

Sowell is always good, a debunker of myths, and this is one of his most fascinating reads.  “Much has been written about the sheer neglect of history in our educational institutions . . . Far more insidious and dangerous, however, is the promotion of a history created as a projection into the past of current notions and agendas.”

First, the so-called Black culture exists only in the urban Black centers today – centers created by welfare state activities (housing developments, etc.).  Has no correspondence in Africa, but stems from the Cracker/Redneck (proudly dysfunctional) culture of the early settlers of the Southern states, originating in the lawless English-Scottish border lands – from dialect to sloth, eschewing long range planning.  No longer significantly evident among Whites or Blacks in the South (or in Scotland since the 1800’s).  A fascinating historic sketch. 

Illustrates the educational and social success of Blacks, often surpassing Whites of the same community, before the “Liberal” preaching and programs for group identity, rather than individualism. 

Illuminates the psychology of ethnic resentments in prospering economies.  Identifies “middleman minorities,” the successful business intermediaries between producers and consumers, Jewish groups and many others, and the pattern of hatred and violence against then in history around the world.  

Interesting sketch of the economic development of German principalities and culture, aided by the British and French, then the rapid rise after unification in the late 1800’s and subsequent attitudes toward Jews, abetted by the Great Depression.  “The rise of such a man [Hitler] as the leader of such a people should serve as a permanent warning to all people everywhere who are charmed by charisma or aroused by rhetoric.”  (Certainly a warning for our times.)

Traces the history of slavery worldwide, practiced not because it was thought moral, but because people did not consider the idea of individual freedom at all.  The British were the first to recognize slavery as immoral and influence Western culture for its elimination. 

“Two fundamental Western mental products, a universalistic conception of human beings and the rule of law.” 

“Those who have no conception of the Constitution of the United States . . . cannot be expected to defend its integrity . . .”

Sowell at his best!

History's Long Lesson

"A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist until the voters discover that they can vote themselves largess from the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidates promising the most benefits from the public treasury with the result that a democracy always collapses over loose fiscal policy, always followed by a dictatorship. The average age of the world's greatest civilizations has been 200 years."
— Alexis de Tocqueville

Atlas Shrugged, Part I . . . Thanks!

 Great fun! Engaging! The plot-theme of individuals creating the economy in conflict with stifling government collectivism is well presented. New types of heroes and villains. Questioning cultural values. Lingering mysteries.

America needs this movie. Thanks go to the dedication of the producers, and to the Atlas Society's help, in bringing this story to the screen true to Ayn Rand's values.

A couple of college kids are now inspired to read the novel, having found the movie entertaining and presenting "issues we have to deal with." Even though it is "not the kind of movie we normally go to see."

Some superficial readers of the novel (of which there are millions) said the movie's "fast pace and streamlining helped them see the ideas" within the adventure. Sparking their interest in rereading with a new focus.

The movie was even more enjoyable the second time, as I picked up on more elements. Anyone who loves the novel can subjectively nitpick aspects of the focus, the dialogue, or the acting, as mutually conflicting reviewers have. Helpful criticism is useful, but nitpicking is all anyone can reasonably do, as no serious criticism is justified.

The experience is enhanced by familiarity with the novel, but stands well on its own. Most movie goers will have encountered some discussion of Ayn Rand and the novel from today's culture: TV news commentators, newspaper articles, conservative radio, congressmen quoting, Tea Party popularizing, school readings, word of mouth, etc. Even the negative movie reviews generally spread word of the story and conflict.

So, this movie can be expected to be an exciting focal point of new and deeper introductions to Ayn Rand's works, dramatizing the capitalist-socialist conflict and the morality of rational self-interest.

Onward to Part II!

Mountain Top Coal Mining, West Virginia

Shows large scale productivity by human standards is small scale for the Appalachians. Even if there was no recovery effort. Click the years to see the progress, and the large view button at right to get a more revealing view. NASA http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Features/WorldOfChange/hobet.php?src=eoa-ann

Neocons: Rejecting the Declaration of Independence

Neoconservatism: An Obituary for an Idea, by C. Bradley Thompson, with Yaron Brook, is a fascinating exposition of the essence, history, and philosophy of the movement or idea. (And I'm only a third into it.)

What may be characterized as neoconservatism is the purposefully nebulous intellectual movement which has largely consumed the conservative intelligentsia. So-called compassionate conservatism. Socialism in capitalist clothing. A pragmatic approach to the welfare state. Capitalism with a heart. Lip-service capitalism. Socialism without totalitarianism.  Or perhaps, “A new spectre is haunting the world?” Neoconservatism requires no formal conspiracy, only general acceptance of a philosophic approach.

A philosophic approach counter to the Enlightenment which gave birth to the founding fathers and America. Rejection of the idea that all men are capable of reason and self-improvement. Rejection of reason and principle in favor of emotionalism and “prudence.” Neocons, while inconsistent, effectively reject the Declaration of Independence. Not in an implied, confused way, but explicitly. Men do not have natural rights; such as, life, liberty, or pursuit of happiness. The purpose of government is not to protect individual rights, but to ensure that men recognize the duties of serving the “public good.” Only then will they be happy.

Still, neocons recognize that forced socialism fails, producing poverty, misery, slaughter, and oppression. Thus, some measure of capitalism must be preserved to generate the wealth needed for actual public good, for redistribution by the welfare state.

But capitalism is founded on principles of self-interest and individual rights. So, neocons seek pragmatic compromises, some fantasy mixture of limited freedoms and regulations, to be guided by an elite in the “art of politics” toward the “greater good.” (As both Dante and Ayn Rand have observed, compromisers, betrayers of principle, belong to the lowest depths of hell.)

The goal of government, of the elite, of these real life versions of Ayn Rand's fictional Ellsworth Toohey, is to promote a modern version of Plato's noble lie, founded in unquestioned, traditionally altruistic, religious beliefs – a unifying “secular religion.” All the while, politically, legislatively nudging and guiding the culture in properly collective directions.

The fact that neoconservative thought, by its nature, cannot be a unified, organized movement serves to nullify its goals, but not its cultural, political damage – as promoters engage in intellectually confused and conflicting policy urgings and moral critiques – picked up by the journalistic and entertainment media and universities.

Neocons argue that principles of individual freedom lead to false virtues of self-interest, degenerating into hedonism (mindless gratification, greed, and entertainment). Thus, they attack a straw man, following the tradition of religious and altruistic thinkers. Men who can see no morality in reason or the “self,” but only empty degradation. (Themselves, the elite, the transcendentally enlightened, excepted.)

Ironically, the founders of this philosophic movement claim an answer to Nietzsche and Heidegger, but effectively only politicize nihilism and existentialism. More ironically, the neocons formulated their views at the time Ayn Rand was providing the antidote to their straw man: a validation of reason and moral values, which must be grounded in man's individual nature and self growth. Their evasion of Rand is grounded in their evasion of reason as a virtue.

The “godfather” of neoconservatism, Irving Kristol, enjoyed a cultural boost, and the neocons have continued to denounce Rand. Rand's Objectivism is now gaining wider distribution and supporters. Both Rand and Kristol are dead, but the cultural battle is well joined. Hopefully, consistent Objectivism will write the obituary of inconsistent, pragmatic neoconservatism.

Other fascinating works in this vain, written for the general reader and tracing the history and philosophic developments which are confusing our modern culture, are Peikoff's “Ominous Parallels” and Hicks' “Explaining Postmodernism: Skepticism and Socialism from Rousseau to Foucault.” All highly recommended.

Doomed Society (Creative Destruction?)

It appears that this society is indeed doomed, but perhaps there is still time for a new, revised society to emerge, before the old is completely consumed spiritually and physically by its contradictions? 

"When you see that trading is done, not by consent, but by compulsion – when you see that in order to produce, you need to obtain permission from men who produce nothing – when you see that money is flowing to those who deal, not in goods, but in favors – when you see that men get richer by graft and by pull than by work, and your laws don't protect you against them, but protect them against you – when you see corruption being rewarded and honesty becoming a self-sacrifice – you may know that your society is doomed."  --Ayn Rand

Regulatory restrictions and licensing requirements from every level of government as far as the eye can see.  Mandated schooling, health care, social security, union participation, retirement age, minimum wage, etc.  Production prevented by restricting oil drilling and refinery operations, nuclear power, land use permissions, unionization requirements, environmental foolishness, etc.  Subsidies and tax incentives for favored crops and so-called green technology, financial bailouts for some, wavers from Obamacare burdens for favored corporations and unions, exemptions for congressmen, etc.  Police graft institutionalized through forfeiture laws and victimless crimes.

The hope:  Modern communication is providing knowledge of events real time and allowing widespread coordination among like minded people at the historic moment when Ayn Rand's works are becoming part of the mainstream culture, giving capitalism a moral foundation for the first time.

Obama's Surrender of America (Attempted?)

In response to domestic and foreign public opinion in support of the Libyan uprising, Obama, collectivist coordinator-in-chief, has taken the opportunity to send American personnel and treasure in harms way while abrogating responsibility and goals to the international community, the United Nations, and the League of Arab States.

Depending on the goals, the wisdom and legitimacy of going to war may be debatable, but attempting to transfer authority and justification to the international community is an attempt to surrender sovereignty in some measure – to surrender America's right to rational self-interest and its founding cultural values. 

Subjugating America's interests, resources, and policies to some sort of “world government” or “world committee” authority has long been the dream of the domestic and foreign socialist, multiculturalist, moral relativist, nihilist community. 

This attempt by Obama to move America away from sovereignty is likely to be thwarted by negative feedback from the American public seeing American forces under foreign authority. But a good many Americans elected this Bozo; so, the success of future moves is uncertain. The first steps are being taken.

The President's Libya Mission?

Haven't head a clear statement of the "President's Libya Mission?" The news media wonders loudly, failing to realize that as always, so does Obama.

Fundamentally an international socialist, a community organizer with illusions of grandeur, he has no real concept of practical plans and goals. 

Obama is always waiting for others to provide direction and policy details, to find a way to carry out what he fantasizes. On issues of foreign policy he relies on judgments of the “international community.”

From corporate bailouts to health care legislation to immigration issues to foreign wars, Obama follows where he guesses most people and the press want to go: where congressional leaders, the Fed, union thugs, etc. convince him it will be popular to go. Then tries to jump in front to gain the image of a leader. Always delaying decisions and action, especially after guessing wrong, avoiding responsibility.

Thus, we wonder about the “President's Mission,” rather than America's or even congress's mission. It is a mercurial thing, not derived from principle. And another abdication of congressional responsibility.

ARI and the Atlas movie

If you scroll all the way to the bottom of the Ayn Rand Institute’s long home page, you will see a link to a staged video interview with Yaron Brook, with a portion talking about the movie. 
http://arc-tv.com/atlas-shrugged-movie-and-the-ayn-rand-institute/

Essentially, he is distancing ARI from the production and discouraging more than encouraging potential viewers.  This is simply an obligatory nod that a movie has been made, allowing ARI to claim that it has not ignored the fact – though it is trying hard.

Strangely, having seen the movie, Brook acknowledges its faithfulness to Ayn Rand’s novel and ideas, objecting only that the passion of the novel’s characters for their work is not fully captured.  He even admits that no movie version is likely to fully satisfy him, and that Peikoff sold the rights so that a movie would be made to draw more readers to the novel. 

So, we have perhaps the most exciting event in the history of the novel taking place, and ARI’s near silence is sending a message of disapproval.  What is ARI’s motivation? 

Radiation Detected?

Every local has some radiation. Easy to detect. Radiation levels above normal? A crate of bananas will do it. High in potassium40. Radiation levels up 300%? A drive from L.A. to Denver will do it. No deterioration in health.

Phenomenon of the News Media Anchor Personality

Amazingly, those manning the news anchor desks of the major network shows, the dedicated news channels, and the business channels, do not seem able to learn from events, history, or the experts they interview. Thus, they cannot distinguish true experts from political bureaucrats and mediocre academics. As news stories develop over days and weeks, the anchors seldom exhibit any deeper understanding of the issues.

This has long been notable in the reporting on the goals for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and for the economic issues since the stock market crash of 2008. It is particularly evident with Japan's current nuclear plant problems.

Even as they report daily on how nuclear plants are constructed and operate, they continue with impossible scare scenarios of cancer causing clouds spreading over hundreds of miles, underground contamination of the water supply and crops, melt downs dispersing deadly radiation for miles, etc.  Even Chernobyl, which had no containment structure, is known for not resulting in the wide spread cancer deaths and genetic problems that were prognosticated. 

This phenomenon of dysfunctional anchor personalities/intellects extends to all political issues, from the war on drugs to education mandates. It may be argued that they just want to keep the stories lively and excite an audience, but from many repeated questions and comments they make it is clear that their understanding does not improve from day to day.

News media anchors exhibit a palpable absence of thinking.

Japan's Disaster Demonstrates Nuclear Plant Safety

Japan's current nuclear reactor problems show the safety of properly designed nuclear plants. The worst earthquake in one hundred years, a thirty foot tsunami, loss of external power and normal cooling systems, exploding buildings due to hydrogen buildup, and no radiation leak.

Emergency steam released from the reactor core containment buildings contain insignificantly low level radiation, which is dispersed in the winds. We get more radiation from the rocks we live on and the granite buildings we inhabit.

Some dozens of people have been treated for supposed symptoms of radiation poisoning. But there has been no explanation for how they were exposed. Likely imaginary illness? (Even given such illness and possible deaths, nuclear plants save more lives by reducing the death rates involved in providing alternative sources of energy.)

The worse case scenario of a core melt down would simply drop the core into the earth a few feet, depending on the type of rock and dirt, where it continues to cool, can be recovered, and shipped to a nuclear waste site.

Most of the community disruption is due to politically motivated “emergency” responses. Other types of industrial disasters kill far more people: refinery explosions, plane and train crashes, ship sinking, dam breaks, etc. Not to mention all those who die in the alternative coal mining and transportation operations, oil rig explosions, etc.

These same lessons were also taught by the so called Three Mile Island “disaster” – which it wasn't, except for the owners.

Nuclear reactor problems do not equal radiation problems.