Hacker News new | ask | show | jobs
by finite_jest 1629 days ago
Not really. It is certainly an issue which progressives put more weight on. And there is a disagreement on the solutions too: progressives are generally apprehensive about nuclear. [1]

You can personally attack me with any one of the "certain" labels in the arsenal. But you can also choose to argue in good faith.

[1]: e.g. https://www.greenamerica.org/fight-dirty-energy/amazon-build...
2 comments
samhw 1629 days ago
> And there is a disagreement on the solutions too: progressives are generally apprehensive about nuclear.

Yeah, this is one of the things I really hate about my side of the aisle. It's stupid, unscientific, and just plain uninformed. Nuclear energy is one of our best, most actually viable ways out of this mess. (File with: GMO crops, 'chemicals', etc.)

link
JohnTHaller 1629 days ago
I replied to parent. Democrats now poll around 60% in favor of nuclear energy while Republicans poll at 64% in favor. It changed a lot in a few years.
link
samhw 1628 days ago
Ah, I hadn't realised that. I'm really glad to hear that. Obviously I hope PV and other green energy sources will take off, but in the interim nuclear is by far the best established and working green source of energy.
link
JohnTHaller 1629 days ago
This has changed in the last few years: https://ecoamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/nuclear-su...
link
finite_jest 1629 days ago
That was interesting. Surveys are not that reliable though, and the outcome depends on how the question is being asked.

I found this 2020 survey by Pew Research which I think paints a more realistic picture [1]. It has a larger sample size [2], and IMO it asks a more objective/specific question.

Among "Conservative Republicans", 59% responded that they support expanding nuclear power plants, in contrast with 35% of "Liberal Democrats". Interestingly, for "Mod/lib Republicans", that number is also below 50%.

You might have a point though. My personal observation is that there has been a slight shift among the progressives, but not as much as the graph by ecoAmerica suggests.

[1]: https://archive.is/2iEHj#selection-1253.0-1253.154

[2]: I think the sample size is 10,957.

link
JohnTHaller 1628 days ago
This survey is still a year and 7 months old now. In my personal observation is that most of the folks I know here in NYC who identify as a Democrat, Progressive, etc are in favor of nuclear power.
link