Time for wind to replace nuclear

With the effectiveness of a corporate media driven propaganda campaign, coupled with a weak and often ineffectual government, one of my fears is that soylent green will be sold to the general public. Instead of keeping their ingredient a secret, however, the propagandists will tell us that humans taste great! And what's so bad about cannibalism!

That's how I feel about the nuclear catastrophe unfolding in Japan. As heroic workers struggle round the clock to protect the populace from the worst nuclear catastrophe in a generation, Senators, Congressman, and even Bill Saleton are telling us not to worry about toxic sludge. Beg your pardon?

At least Saleton makes the good point that coal-emissions kill 13,000 Americans annually.  But the usually right-center libertarian-ish Ann Applebaum made a very good counterpoint: If the Japanese can't make a nuclear power plant completely safe, who can?

With the problems so very real and documented, it's time to start focusing on solutions.

First of all, let's remember that nuclear power cannot exist without massive taxpayer investment. First, the taxpayer must finance construction of the nuclear power plant. Then the taxpayer must finance costly storage of said waste (to say nothing about the potential hazards of temporary storage). Finally, the government spends billions to determine a long-term solution for the waste. That should be the third strike against nuclear power--this electricity option is out!

If we the taxpayers are going to spend billions of dollars on electricity, we might as well put solar panels everywhere. Every roof, residential and commercial, should receive solar panels. The money we allocate for this project should come out of what we are currently spending on this nuclear boondoggle.

Second, we should acknowledge the current potential of wind power. The wind corridor in the plains of Texas all the way to the Dakotas is sufficient to provide enough power to 20 percent of the United States. That is the exact same percentage we currently derive from Nuclear Power. That wind potential does not include winds off the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, the Great Lakes and the Gulf of Mexico. We should repeal the $46 billion tax breaks for oil and coal companies and use that money to finance construction of the turbines.

Lastly, to eliminate the corrosive influence of avaricious energy companies, we should nationalize all remaining power plants through eminent domain. No more lobbyists spewing smoke about their right to spew smoke in our air or asking Uncle Sam for more taxpayer handouts. That gravy train is over!