We can just rename fission to #goodenergy or something, that would be cheaper then developing fusion.
People don't even know that nuclear reactors use fission, so the idea that this would change anything is crazy. People opposed will call fusion reactors 'nuclear' just like they do fission.
If a Fusion reactor blows up, the radiation risk is basically 0, aside from the lack of potential melt downs.
Fusion does indeed come with radiological hazards: a fire could release radioactive gas and dust. If designed right, the worst-case scenario would still be way less severe than for a fission plant -- and the worst-case scenario is really what stokes all the popular fears about 'nuclear'. OTOH, tritium leakage could mean that routine emissions are larger.
The day-to-day danger perhaps, but it's kind of hilarious in a sad way to read this right after fukushima spent god knows how long leaking radioactive shit into the ocean.
People are terrified of radiation, even if the danger is very low. This means it becomes prohibitively difficult and hence expensive to build and run a fission plant because safety has to be prioritized so heavily. That is even if permission is granted to build in the first place.
I think it is unlikely for irrational fear of fusion to become mainstream like it has with fission.
Because of this I think the barriers to fusion power are at this point lower than the barriers to scaling up fission power.