Fear used to sell nuclear power as an electoral weapon

[sweetheart]

If you picked up this week's John O'Groat Journal
http://www.johnogroat-journal.co.uk/
you would have seen this headline on the front page (not on the website):
'Population could drop to 11,000'

THE loss of Dounreay to the Caithness
economy would have a "catastrophic"
impact on local jobs and population numbers.

That is the thrust of the argument which
will be advanced at the annual general
meeting of the Dounreay Action Group in the
Thurso Club on Monday night.

DAG chairman, Roy Godfrey, claims the
Caithness population could drop from its
present figure of 27,000 to less than 11,000
by 2035 and continue on a downward trend
unless Dounreay is retained as a fully
serviced and licensed nuclear plant.

The site is currently being decommissioned
but Mr. Godfrey believes the only way to
halt the decline of the area is to prolong
Dounreay's life and let it play a part in,
"a massive UK investment in nuclear power of
2.5 billion a year for at least 10 years."
.
<snip>
.


Well, obviously this regionial scottish newspaper is a tory rag.
The story is coming from the workers union of the dounreay plant
who will lose their jobs as nuclear power is decommissioned.
The story misleads and lies, as the plant does not actually
generate nuclear power. It is a massive rubbish tip, kept at
taxpayer expense on the scottish north coast. The irresponsible
management of the plant has, with taxpayer funds, create a billions
of pounds mess, are getting more billions to clean it up, and now,
to add to the welfare-mentality, they want more money to keep the
mess going longer.

That the story is running during the run up to the election is only
further deliberate targeting by the news editors, trying to get
whomever pumps nuclear power votes. Obviosuly, they did not consult
an economist, as rather they get a moron to talk economics and then
air it on the front page. THe population will propably grow along
with the economy when dounreay is gone, as it has caused cancer
clusters and polluted beaches for miles along the coast with
thousands of small particles of "fuel rod", enough that beaches are
closed in some areas, and a no-fishing ban exists around the area.

So what is it with these welfare queens of the nuclear industry?
Can't they get real jobs, and work in real industry, or are they
speaking for a massive population that wants to suck on the teat
of the state dole to have permanent employment creating a rubbish
tip? Rather these are people who've only ever known their nuclear
dump as the basis for their incomes, and they can't conceive of the
modern world and a modern economy where other types of business
supercede their mess.

The true irony, is that it would be cheaper for the public purse to
pay every resident of the area 1 million pound to do NOTHING. As
dounreay is effectively a massive waste of tax resources for no
returns at all except a 10,000 year waste problem.

That the stupid newspaper editors think they can help swing a local
election with this kind of scaremongering is admirable, but trashy
and not in keeping with honest news reporting.

[sweetheart]

1. And here it is from the conservative's campaign leaflet

I just got this leaflet in my mailbox, "Angus Ross: Scottish Conservative"
(read: Tory), but trying to appeal to the "scottish nationalist" vote.

"What is really needed here are real jobs to provide a future for young
people and professionals alike. On his recent visit, Sir Bernard Ingham
made a strong plea for the people of Caithness to make their voices heard.

Vote Conservative and add your support - as 'Caithness says YES' to new
nuclear investment at Dounreay."

Then it says nothing much more, except "... Send a message to Tony Blair."

It seems the conservatives want to win by sending a message and getting
lucky enough that the message unseats labour, as if being elected by
a no-tony vote is enough... no policy required... no competence required.

I heard this very same technique was used to screw Labour in Australia.
.. this send a message bollocks.

What a bunch of wankers.

[Anarcho-Socialist]

2. The Australian influence is very noticeable...

...from the immigrant-bashing to "vote Tory, don't give Blair another big majority".

I just hope people exercise caution in Labour/Tory marginals, as punishing Labour can let the Tories in through the backdoor. Although I think that Labour deserve to be punished, I vehemently oppose the Tories being rewarded with sneaking into power.

[Guy_Montag]

3. I think Andrew Marr summed it up well

with the current polls even voting Tory won't let the Tories in by the back door.