[hattmall]

Nuclear is actually a great example. It's a major scientific accomplishment but pretty much the least cost effective method of energy generation. Nuclear allowed us to generate huge amounts of energy to waste on whatever we like when the real focus should be on massively decreasing energy demands. But of course that doesn't make anyone money.

[Eisenstein]

Decreasing energy demands isn't going to happen though, and energy should not be thought of as a profit generator. You can spend all your effort trying to do something that isn't going to happen without forcing people to do it, and you can lament that public needs don't make profits, or you can deal with the reality of the situation and accept that things aren't ideal.

[hattmall]

>energy should not be thought of as a profit generator

By whom are you referring to? By me? The general public? Or the stock holders of the power company?

Energy is a HUGE profit center.

[ath3nd]

> and you can lament that public needs don't make profits, or you can deal with the reality of the situation and accept that things aren't ideal.

Ah, so we have to "deal with the reality of the situation and accept things"? You know who also was being told that? French peasants and middle class, by their king Louis XVI, who told them that they had to accept plummeting living standards and wages. You know how it ended up, right? The king had to deal with the reality of a guillotine.

Some people might accept being used and abused by the capitalistic system as a "natural order of things", but there are people who can envision a world where not everything is about profit, and there are such things as public goods, services, resources, housing, benefits, etc.

> Decreasing energy demands isn't going to happen though, and energy should not be thought of as a profit generator

Says who? Not everything is about profit. The fact that so many in today's society are thinking of capitalism is the natural order of things doesn't make capitalism less fragile, especially if it continues not serving society. When something doesn't serve society, society gets rid of it (usually violently) and replaces it with something else. Many CEOs and oligarchs nowadays forget that, just like the kings before them, until a Luigi comes and reminds them.

> lament that public needs don't make profits,

Whatever the public needs, eventually the public will get, with or without profits involved, and with or without the agreement of the "ruling" class.

[Eisenstein]

That whole comment comes off as unhinged and has nothing to do with development of energy infrastructure for a world population that has growing energy needs.