I guess I should tag this diary "schoolmarm." But it bothers me more and more when people fight about nuclear energy. It is one of the elephants in the room, regarding the future of energy resources. We should not be trashing people who argue intelligently in favor of promoting it, and they should not be trashing people who argue intelligently against it.

One thing I've been seeing here, as I peruse comment threads on the nuke diaries, is that the discussion really is elevating. It's getting more calm and more specific. There are lots more numbers involved in these comments. There is a lot more of arguing over numbers, instead of slapping people around because they are bad nuclear shills or lame treehuggers or some such damned thing or another.

That's good. I like that. It makes it easier for me to read the comment threads. It makes it easier for me to learn from either side.

There are other elephants in the room, regarding energy debates. The biggest one is human overpopulation. But do you know what I read in this month's issue of Harper's Magazine? In the Harper's Index?

Check this out:

"Number of countries where fertility is currently below replacement levels: 76"

It's doable. But those countries did not get to that point from fighting, or being fought. They got there from the populaces feeling more secure. Safety nets and women having roles in society, that's what makes it happen.

That's a big elephant right there.

A friend of mine wrote me recently: "Suggesting that we will find answers to problems without addressing the underlying causes is like telling kids to believe in Santa Claus or the tooth faery."

What are the rest of the elephants in the room? There's got to be lots of them. Any suggestions?