U.S. Pollies See the Light !

How many bureaucrats does it take to screw in a light bulb? None...if that bulb is a traditional incandescent bulb. That's because back in 2007 the government passed a law that effectively bans traditional incandescent light bulbs starting in 2012. This is unfortunately true for Australia as well.

This light bulb-banning law was another one of those good intentions foisted upon us by the "watermelons" that now many people don't think is turning out so good. They don't like the light given off by these compact fluorescent light bulbs. They are annoyed that these bulbs can't be used on a Dimmer Switch. And to add insult-to-injury they cost a lot more, making the idea of saving money a farce. The pie-in-the-sky environmentalists who seem to be against anything that even hints of being poisonous, totally ignore the fact that the amount of mercury in one bulb is enough to contaminate up to 6,000 gallons (22,712 liters) of water beyond safe drinking levels. If you break one, you should rush to open up the windows and keep animals and children out of the room. Wear gloves as you delicately put broken pieces in a separate bag and vacuum carefully or call a HAZMAT crew. Wonderful isn't it?

A political-advocacy group in the United States, called Freedom Action (including some Federal Senators) recently launched a campaign to repeal the ban in the incandescent bulbs. The question they ask is WHY should a select few politicians four years ago be able to tell hundreds of millions of people what light bulbs are best for them? Especially when it's been shown that all this conversion won't make a hell of lot of difference to global warming. They have introduced a bill aptly called the Better Use of Light Bulbs (the BULB Act) that would repeal the 2007 Energy Law that would let the light of incandescent shine brightly once again.

The Way I See It....people should have a choice. I think it's fine if someone wants to fill his home or business with the light from the new bulbs. I also think it is fine if someone wants to buy an old-fashioned bulb because it works better for him or her. If left alone, the best bulb will win its rightful standing in the market place.