RE: [pf] Risks, imposed or chosen

by David A

17 December 2000 22:09 UTC

Betsy Barnum wrote:
Betsy wrote:
> The risk is being taken without consent, without 
> participation. It is a risk someone else--a corporation, 
> which stands to benefit monetarily--is willing to take with 
> everyone's health and safety. And it is a risk that may go 
> directly against the accepted values of the community, against > common 
> sense, and the "science" of risk assessment is used
> to justify it and to cast aspersions on any individuals who 
> object to others deciding what risks they will take.

By this argument, then, shouldn't your power bill come with a note 
saying, "On your behalf, based on your consumption of X kilowatt-hours 
this month, Midwest Power produced Y pounds of greenhouse gases, Z 
pounds of atmospheric particulates, (etc). These by-products have been 
shown to cause respiratory problems in people living to your east that 
will statistically cause 0.12 additional pulmonary deaths/year, and 
contribute to an overall long-term warming of the earth, will accelerate 
the rise in sea levels, (etc)." Should you be "given" the option of 
buying your power from a solar-energy power producer instead? Nuclear, 
if you so choose? 

David