A Debate on Energy Policy

A DEBATE ON ENERGY POLICY
                                                                                                                                                                copyright © 1999 by Robert L. Blau     “We don’t know how to contain it. The risk is unacceptable.”
    Mr. Cecropia rubbed his hands together and shook his head. Another flighty alarmist. Don’t go for the easy put-down, he reminded himself.
    “And you are Mr. ...”
    “Luna,” said the alarmist.
    “Well, Mr. Luna, we do know how to contain it,” said Mr. Cecropia evenly. “That’s what I’m here to tell you. The technology is sound. The safety procedures have been tested. They’re fail-safe.”
    “You’re the engineer, but I don’t know,” said Mr. Luna doubtfully. “I don’t think we know enough about this stuff. What’s wrong with the sun in the morning and the moon at night?”
    Ignorance. Nothing but ignorance. Where would civilization be today if we listened to the naysayers?
    “We need the energy,” Mr. Cecropia continued. “The so-called natural sources are inadequate. Do you think you could make it through a night on moonlight alone? Even if you could, the majority of the citizenry demands more.”
    There was a buzz of general approval. Mr. Cecropia smiled inwardly. Consumerism will win out in the end.
    “What about the June Bug Accident?”
    Approval gave way to anxiety. Every wing on the tree shuddered.
    “That was different,” Mr. Cecropia said, trying to calm his audience. “June bugs are morons. They were in over their antennae.”
    “There were moths there when that bulb went hot,” Mr. Luna persisted.
    “Yes, yes. Everyone knows that. An unfortunate accident. Wrong place at the wrong time. But the June bugs were utilizing an obsolete technology. They had inadequate safety processes in place. This is an entirely different situation. With my cocooning technology, we will have the light without the heat. We’ll be safe as, uh, bugs in a rug. Hey, I represent your leaders of government and industry. You have our guarantee.”
    The audience was again buzzing in Mr. Cecropia’s favor.
    “Will it withstand wetness?”
    “Define ‘wetness.’ Atmospheric, swampland, ...”
    “Water. Will it withstand water?”
    “Well, no. Not as such. Not yet. But we won’t deploy near water.”
    “What about rain?”
    “A remote possibility at worst. Why worry about hypothetical problems? By the time it rains, we’ll think of something.”
    The other moths nodded their antennae approvingly.

In the distance, there was a faint crack of thunder.