What genius thought Las Vegas Nevada would be the perfect spot to serve as “America’s Nuclear Dumping Ground?” What public servant would authorize shipments of glowing toxic waste hauled by rail directly through the heart of this city without public notice or private warning? Clearly, that person had to be a loser angry that a past wager didn’t payoff. Yucca Mountain looks like a bad bet too. It doesn’t matter who authorized the original idea and or for what reasons. What matters is what politician or politicians will now publicly admit Yucca Mountain borders on insanity. This looks like a homegrown terror plot right out of the Osama Bin Laden playbook. Who would place all our nuclear waste eggs in one basket and place them on a faultline? What politician will find the political courage to stop Yucca Mountain because it’s a “Yucky” idea?
Sen. John McCain apparently lacks the political courage to tell the truth and prevent Las Vegas from becoming the butt of all toxic waste jokes. McCain has taken political advantage of the public angst associated with $4.00 gas and he has pledged to build fourty plus new nuclear plants. That’s assanine! If we don’t develop a better plan to handle the waste, then we are creating a greater security threat while kicking the can down the road. Everyone in America knows Sen. McCain is old and his focus may not be on real long-term solutions? With no where to put the waste, more nukes is a serious risk. We already fear terrorists getting their hands on this waste to create more WMD. Would a serious politician suggest creating more with no real storage solution? McCain’s approach isn’t serious and it makes me angry!
Sen. Barack Obama has pledged not to allow the Yucca Mountain project to be completed. He has also found the wisdom to challenge the gas tax holiday gimmicks and oppose bad solutions to the energy angst. As a citizen of Nevada, I want to do my fair share to fix the energy problems; but betting gas prices will continue to increase is a safe bet during an endless war. The speculation game is rigged and anything offered short of fixing the speculation problem is a waste of time. Drilling for more oil only gives us more over-priced oil and more angst. The problem with nuclear waste is “NIMBY” or “Not In My Back Yard.” Nevada wants to lead the way in energy alternatives like solar and wind, but is clearly against becoming “America’s Nuke Dump.” In fact, Las Vegas has already had a mock trial run where a runaway train sped through this city. Yucca Mountain is a “Yucky” idea and it looks like one candidate doesn’t get it. If Obama refuses to change positions; I’m almost certain Obama will capture the vote in Nevada and be our next president.
In short, Las Vegas is a city driven by growth and tourism. Yucca Mountain is simply bad for business because it grows the threat of a nuclear accident here and this is not a tourist attraction most would like to see. Yucca Mountain is a personal subject that I don’t need to think about. It’s so close, it’s got to be personal. The 2008 election could simply come down to a personal choice on energy policy. One “We can” accept, the other we cannot because it’s too risky. If this were happening in your back yard, what would be good for your future growth and tourism?
