The Twelve Years of Reactor Licensing

In the first year of licensing
The public gave to us
A six-digit civil penalty

In the second year of licensing
The public gave to us
Two crazy politicians,
And a six-digit civil penalty

In the third year of licensing
The public gave to us
Three junk-science lawsuits,
Two crazy politicians,
And a six-digit civil penalty

In the fourth year of licensing
The public gave to us
Four irate labor unions,
Three junk-science lawsuits,
Two crazy politicians,
And a six-digit civil penalty

In the fifth year of licensing
The public gave to us
Five National Guard armories,
Four irate labor unions,
Three junk-science lawsuits,
Two crazy politicians,
And a six-digit civil penalty

In the sixth year of licensing
The public gave to us
Six pseudoscientists,
Five National Guard armories,
Four irate labor unions,
Three junk-science lawsuits,
Two crazy politicians,
And a six-digit civil penalty

In the seventh year of licensing
The public gave to us
Seven legislators posturing,
Six pseudoscientists,
Five National Guard armories,
Four irate labor unions,
Three junk-science lawsuits,
Two crazy politicians,
And a six-digit civil penalty

In the eighth year of licensing
The public gave to us
Eight new regulatory agencies,
Seven legislators posturing,
Six pseudoscientists,
Five National Guard armories,
Four irate labor unions,
Three junk-science lawsuits,
Two crazy politicians,
And a six-digit civil penalty

In the ninth year of licensing
The public gave to us
Nine irritated contractors,
Eight new regulatory agencies,
Seven legislators posturing,
Six pseudoscientists,
Five National Guard armories,
Four irate labor unions,
Three junk-science lawsuits,
Two crazy politicians,
And a six-digit civil penalty

In the tenth year of licensing
The public gave to us
Ten activists protesting,
Nine irritated contractors,
Eight new regulatory agencies,
Seven legislators posturing,
Six pseudoscientists,
Five National Guard armories,
Four irate labor unions,
Three junk-science lawsuits,
Two crazy politicians,
And a six-digit civil penalty

In the eleventh year of licensing
The public gave to us
Eleven PR blunders,
Ten activists protesting,
Nine irritated contractors,
Eight new regulatory agencies,
Seven legislators posturing,
Six pseudoscientists,
Five National Guard armories,
Four irate labor unions,
Three junk-science lawsuits,
Two crazy politicians,
And a six-digit civil penalty

In the twelfth year of licensing
The public gave to us
Twelve cost overruns,
Eleven PR blunders,
Ten activists protesting,
Nine irritated contractors,
Eight new regulatory agencies,
Seven legislators posturing,
Six pseudoscientists,
Five National Guard armories,
Four irate labor unions,
Three junk-science lawsuits,
Two crazy politicians,
And a denial of the operating license