It's very easy to understand. The USSR was an authoritarian government with an entrenched and powerful bureaucracy which was controlled by people who had the ultimate faith in themselves and ultimate decision making power. The USSR and China are infamous for making decisions bases on the wishes of government officials in power. Their hubris demanded they be right and so it was.
This is no different then the lies of the NRC/IAEA. It is in nature of the beast, if they were honest about nuke power no one would tolerate it.
What was more foolish? Combustible graphite rods to cut corners in Chernobyl's reactor or knowingly selling flawed reactors with big salad strainer holes in the bottom to make a quick buck to our allies like Japan?
Both are suicidal, the difference is the USSR could be shamed into cleaning up their mess by the world community during the cold war (and evacuating children who are very sensitive to Iodine 131) forcing them to take responsibility, Japan and US are willing to still irradiate their children and workers to keep up the secrecy of a corrupt bureaucratic system.
So yeah, once again Fuku breaks new records, we have outdone even the USSR in nuke power cronyism.
Go USA! (and GE/TEPCO)
Tests find thyroid radiation in Japanese children
http://www.spacemart.com/reports/Tests_find_thyroid_radiation_in_Japanese_children_999.html
Of the valid test results collected for 1,080 children, 482 or
44.6 percent were confirmed to have some level of radioactive contamination in their thyroid glands, the government official told AFP.
I-131 eats childrens thyroids for breakfast. A child has very little natural iodine built up over their lifetimes so 131 soaks up like a sponge since the human body sees it as the purest of the pure Iodine (our immune system needs a 'lil iodine stash in the thyroid to sterilize pesky bugs) Having nuke power waste in your neck as a kid will earn you the "Chernobyl smile" (they cut your throat to pull your thyroid gland out -google it to give you a boost to your monday)
Safe, Reliable -the Smart Choice for America's Future! Nuclear Power! (and some cesium goodness)
Wake up folks, once again shit too good to be true is just that, pure bullshit.
I am not even a parent, some of you are. You should learn more about this, kids deserve it.
Besides, TEPCO KNEW that seawall was far too low, and BSed about it, they knew the generators almost at sea level was asinine. Sure, the earthquake was big, but they half assed and lied to the public, thus
Fuku was a MAN MADE disaster brought on by negligence. Don't believe the hype, they are half assing here too, I would bet the bank on it.