[wolf78]

That, I think, is because the French leadership has been inclined to act in its nation’s self interest. In the US, that is considered a sin.

The thing is: exactly because France considers energy in its nation's self interest, it has socialized electricity. Because EDF is basically an extension of the French government, all that nuclear power has been made possible. The question is: do you want the same for the US?

[rightwingcrazy]

You present a false dilemma. There are any number of alternatives; e.g, the US government could recognize that free enterprise and competition are in the nation’s best interest, and nuclear power plants, or something better, would be a consequence of that.

[Ditto]

The thing is: exactly because France considers energy in its nation's self interest, it has socialized electricity.

France also has little in the way of domestic energy resources -- coal, oil or gas. The atom made perfect sense to them as opposed to importing fuel for electric generation.