In 2007 Congress mandated that light bulbs become more energy efficient which effectively will replace the incandescent light bulb by 2014 with compact fluorescent bulbs.
Light bulbs only account for about 1.2 percent of all energy used in the United States, so replacing all traditional light bulbs with fluorescent bulbs would at most reduce energy consumption by a few tenths of a percent.
Even inside a home there are much more significant areas for energy savings. Replacing an old air conditioner or water heater with a newer model will save a lot more energy than replacing a few light bulbs.
But never mind logic. This is not about logic, but rather about making everyone feel good about being a part of the great new religion of environmentalism. The great thing about light bulbs is that we can indoctrinate children in school to monitor their parents’ purchase of light bulbs and everyone can feel happy about doing their share of “going green” even if in reality replacing the type of light bulbs we use doesn’t make a difference, certainly not if you believe in the approaching apocalypse brought by “global warming.”
Oh and there is the problem that these fluorescent bulbs contain mercury, a toxic heavy metal that can cause serious health problems if inhaled or ingested, and should not be disposed of by simply throwing them in the trash.
Red State recently featured this video of Congressman Ted Poe (R -TX) pointing out all the unintended consequences of the seemingly benign legislation that banned the light bulb.
It is pretty obvious that the majority of fluorescent light bulbs will still get thrown in the trash and a good many will break as they become more widespread. So, based on the warnings on these light bulbs, we are more likely to experience lead poising in the post-2014 world. Ahh, but there will be Obamacare! Well, never mind…
The point is this: Democrats want us to believe that we should trust the same people that voted for this silly little feelgood law to control our health care and steer the economy from their offices in Washington towards recovery.
Not a chance! Vote on November 2 to defeat those who belief that commands from an “enlightened” central authority will yield better results than the individual decisions made by millions of Americans every day.
