Grandiose Visions of Technology = BOOM

It is really amazing what technology can do. In my previous post I lampooned an idea for a fleet of automated cars to solve some planning and transportation problems. The mere fact that this may be possible is very impressive. But, like I say below, maybe we should see if we can get the trains to run on time before we switch over to an automated fleet of robot cars. In other words, we need to recognize the limitations of technology in a world run by fallible humans.

One current tech heavy issue that requires a healthy dose of humility is the debate over nuclear power. Experts increasingly agree that the "technology" exists to have safe nuclear power and dispose of the waste. That is, of course, if we humans don't fuck it up. We would have to set up a federal agency, run by political appointees, to evaluate complicated science and create regulations and safety protocols, to oversee a for-profit industry with a motive to cut corners. What are the odds of a positive outcome there?  

Here is a clue. A certain federal agency with engineers and scientists was set up to oversee a system of dikes, levies and pumping stations to protect a certain American city from hurricanes. From a technological perspective, building defenses for New Orleans is a much less complicated task than managing nuclear power and waste. The technology was there in New Orleans. The scientists and engineers calculated how high and strong the walls had to be. How fast the pumps had to pump. The problem was that the people weren't up to the technology. 

Now let's take that level of human frailty and multiply it by 100 nuclear power plants scattered around the country and make the consequences of a fuck up last for 10,000 years. Sound like a good idea?