Is this another unintended consequence of liberal legislation?

Question

The new lightbulbs last longer and save money...or do they???
http://www.businessandmedia.org/articles/2007/20071217164905.aspx

But while Davidson mentioned one drawback of CFLs – that their “yellowish tints” are annoying to some eyes – he failed to mention the major flaw of the new technology: mercury. Mercury, a toxic metal famously found in thermometers, helps create the increased efficiency of a CFL bulb. If the bulb breaks, the small amount of mercury can contaminate the area.



The Financial Post reported in April that a broken CFL bulb cost a Maine woman more than $2,000 to clean when the state Department of Environmental Protection referred her to a cleanup company. At $5 in energy savings per bulb per month (as Davidson reported), one broken bulb could eat up 33 years’ worth of savings!

Answer 1

So if these light bulbs are so great why can't I decide to buy them for myself? (or not to)

Congress thinks they can make this (and many other) decision better than you because they are smarter than the citizens of this country. Your liberty is not as important as congress saving you money on your power bill.

Just another little bit of your liberty taken away in clear violation of the 10th Amendment.

Answer 2

The "mercury" BS is nothing but a scare tactic. The amount of mercury inCFLs is tiny. The propagandists who started this scarecampaign lie and use figures from old style flourescents. Modern ones contain very little mercury.

They also neglect to mention that the coal burned for electricty that CFLs save releasesmany times the amount of mercury intothe environment that the CFLs contain.

Besides, CFLs can be recycled--so there need be NO mercury released.

Bottom line: things have to change. The right wing has beenblocking the needed changesfor years. Now its reached the point that the government hastostep in and force the issue. If these jerks don'tlike it, tough. They had yearsto do the right thing voluntarily--support change that's needed instead of trying to force others to do theings their way. Now they are reaping what they sowed.

Answer 3

I think it's silly that they had to legislate a change that would have been made by the market anyway: companies would have naturally stopped making incandescent bulbs in a few years.

Incandescent bulbs, which are easier to break, contain between 10 and 50 times more mercury that CFLs. If the bluish light bothers your eyes, buy the full spectrum CFLs which are better for your eyes because they reduce glare.

Answer 4

Good article and worth a star. I always turn off the water heater and it saves about 30 a month. I tried the new bulbs a long time ago and not good light. But recently i got some and relamped and they kick out more lumens and about 75%+ less power and are doing good. did not know you have to dispose of in a special way.

Also gave a couple to friend and they relamped. Hope none break. By the way they now want the auto industry to have 35 mpg by 2020 and that may end them or tiny cars and trucks or suvs with copit and seat behind it. may switch to four cylinder diesel engines by then, but more pollution. Take care. By the way reported 3 times for nothing and put back up and I think they are going to remove people doing it as it cost them and it a headache for them.

Answer 5

So you go out and by thousands of the old incandescent bulbs so that you will have pure white light. As the clean up after a CFB is broken you just put the bulb into a plastic bag with as much of the dust and pieces as you can find and wipe the area down with a rage and seal it up and dispose of the bulb in a regulated station. Cost $1.50 check the EPA Website for details.

Answer 6

A CFL has 1/100th the mercury of a thermometer.

As for the lady who spent $2,000 getting a broken one cleaned up, she should win the Darwin Award for being a moron.

Just toss them in the trash when they burn out.

Answer 7

"you ain't seen nuttin yet" wait about 10 yrs. when the cute energy savers wind up in the local dumps.as they break and leak into the water table, streams and lakes,the fun will start.all these lame efforts will come back to bite the public in the as*s !ethanal gasoline is another gov. silly pipe dream that is having serious consequences by increasing food costs.

Answer 8

ahh im not concerned about that I mean how often do you have to dispose of them they last pretty long.

I am wondering though how many of those politicians that were driving this had some manufacturers of CFL bulbs in their pockets.

Answer 9

"Advancing the culture of free enterprise in America" is the slogan of your site, so that lets me know one thing: their opinions will be slanted towards the cause of profit-taking and they will criticize any idea that may impact stock prices.

Secondly, the article says Bush is going to sign the bill, so how is that then LIBERAL legislation?

Methinks you're just trying to find a topic to slam liberals on, friend.

Answer 10

wasnt this passed in congrees almost unanimously by both parties and signed by a republican president?