(03-13-2014 09:43 AM)mlb Wrote:  

(03-13-2014 09:27 AM)I45owl Wrote:  The problem with Chernobyl is not so much efficient allocation of resources, it's a cultural problem of central planning and accountability in Soviet society. I have seen the argument elsewhere that nuclear plants should be taken out of the private sector and run only by government because the profit motive means they cannot be trusted. Chernobyl and the Obamacare website rollout are but two examples of what happens when you trust communists to execute large, expensive projects.

I have friends whom I trust in the industry... they all point to the 1 critical issue that TEPCO missed... the height of the generators.

The reactors scrambled as they were supposed to, but they lost power for the cooling pumps. Even with the 50 year old design of the reactors, everything worked as planned up until they lost generation power.

Without that one critical item, we not have been treated to footage of burning oil terminals with captions about nuclear plants and there would have been no meltdown, no crisis. There are probably plenty of other things as well... where the electrical cables are located, willingness to accept outside help, etc, but private companies have better incentive to act properly and correct procedures than government does.

* SCRAM: safety cut rope axe man