# Why is the Left so afraid of nuclear power?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-left-so-afraid-of-nuclear-power/529708>\
**Category:** Great Debates\
**Created:** [February 19, 2010, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-left-so-afraid-of-nuclear-power/529708 "2010-02-19T22:59:18Z")\
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**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\
**Post date:** [March 2, 2010, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-left-so-afraid-of-nuclear-power/529708/371 "2010-03-02T13:07:06Z")

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> [@gonzomax](#):
>
> Then there are melt downs and day to day breakages and operator mistakes.

FWIW it is possible to build inherently safe nuclear reactors. Inherently safe in that even if humans tried to cause a meltdown (e.g. shut off all the coolant) the physics of the reaction are self limiting. The reactor itself, via physical properties and not mechanics, slows itself down and remains safe.

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