Posted on 07/15/2011 3:36:26 PM PDT by NRG1973
GE and Sylvania, the largest manufacturers of light bulbs were behind the legislation.
Their bottom line is improved if people are forced into buying a newer and more expensive bulb.
They are so dishonest that they are now manufacturing bulbs that are only 5 watts below the new mandate.
Want a 100 watt bulb?
Well today is your lucky day. We can’t give you a 100 watt bulb but you can have a 95 watt bulb and you really won’t know the difference.... sort of.
Oh! And we make them with “bright technology” if you want ones that shine brighter.
They are only twice as much but you love the brightness.
Like Buttuh!
1.) Mercury poisoning if broken in your house.
2.) Mercury poisoning in your water supply.
3.) Dimmer reading light which yields eye strain and headache.
4.) Submission to @ssholes in the government who probably don't even use the damn things in their own homes.
Stock up on incandescent bulbs while you can and give the middle finger to anyone who foists headaches, poisoned water, and government subservience your way.
Those “long term energy bill savings” will vaporize in the next year or so. Do you honestly think power companies will be content with reduced income?
If funding is involved somehow in mercury pollution law [aka squiggly bulbs], then the Hosue has more than normal clout. I hope that’s the case.
If you use mercury bulbs ... there’s more than mercury to worry about:
In the fine print, Mark Stein mentioned a warning [apparently in the fine print] that you can only expose yourself to mercury bulbs for one hour at the time or suffer from brain damage. So stock up on incandescents. Besides, flourescent lighting’s strobe affect can cause headaches.
Don’t do it deliberately. If you deliberately break a mercury bulb near someone, it’s technically an act of terrorism. But what if you are a carefree person who’s trying to juggle them? Well maybe not juggle ....
“The day our country became in danger, is back in 1988 or so, when Reagan (who I otherwise loved) decided to push for civil forfeiture for the mere SUGGESTION the property was involved in a drug crime or proceeds from a drug crime.”
I could be wrong on this, but didn’t the local sheriff had the right to tell the Feds to take a flying leap? I had picked up somewhere [vague memory alert] that the sheriff had the real power then. Not sure that’s still the case. Up in Bedford VA, a drug running sheriff got nailed by the FBI. Hm ....
It won't matter, the Goobermint is going after the coal fired power plants, and there won't be enough electricity to go around, anyway. The price of natural gas will jump, too, so if you don't have the vintage 'Easy Bake' effect of the incandescents, the gas you heat with will be more, too. Loverly, ain't it?
We need to seriously consider having the government become a part-time job again.
More possible good change. An idea’s been getting kicked around to allow competition between electric companies.
> Those “long term energy bill savings” will vaporize in the
> next year or so. Do you honestly think power companies will
> be content with reduced income?
You know, it’s interesting you should say that.
Last month, we used less electricity than the month previous, but our bill was higher. The cost per kwh has gone up.
It’s time to start seriously thinking about living off the grid. We have several friends who have been living off the grid for years.
“DOE has said the standards could save consumers $6 billion a year.”
If that’s true, then just let the market forces happen and people will use them without being coerced.
Sobering, for sure.
Thx.
And, as a last step in the clean-up process, send the broken light bulb to your Congressional rep if he voted for the stupid ban.
Not necessarily. It's attached as an amendment and worded so NOBODY can get their Water and energy aprops funded unless the old bulbs can be brought back to the market.
The first stand alone bill put everyone on the record. This one was an amendment to a water and energy appropriations bill, will be a little tougher to kill off. It also passed by voice vote, as opposed to the stand alone bill which required a 2/3 majority b/c it was under suspension.
We will see how it survives the conference process between the House and Senate.
So now that every incandescent light bulb factory in the U.S. is shut down due to a green brain fart that turned into an “ah...nevermind”, new ones will be tooled up in India, or China.
Yes. But that’s why the 1st vote was under suspension that needed 2/3 majority, because otherwise it would have had to have gone through sub committee, then full committee, then the rules committee, then the floor where they would vote on the rules and amendments are added. By the time the bulb legislation was done with, it would not do what it originally sought out to accomplish. Under suspension, that whole process above doesn’t happen and the original bill is brought to the floor as is for an up or down vote, but it needs 2/3 to pass the House.
As I said, we will have to wait to see what comes out of the Senate on the bill and then the conference process. We have a Dem Senate and a Rep House. The Dems in the Senate will not just accept what is in the House bill. The light bulb issue is not a slam dunk for the Reps.
I hear you loud and clear, partner.
True, and it’s a damn shame that all the coal mining towns are the ones that will suffer the most. Am an advocate of clean-burning coal technology, and I also foresee skyrocketing power prices regardless of how many mercury poison, corkscrew dimbulbs I am expected to use.
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