Give us the ability to CHOOSE our lightbulbs!
Rep.e Michele Bachmann, a Republican from Michigan is fronting a bill she is calling the “Light Bulb Freedom of Choice Act.” The bill is aimed at repealing the absurd phasing out of incandescent bulbs by the federal government.
Her bill would stop the phased removal of incandescent bulbs from the market, unless Congress can substantially prove that the compact fluorescent bulbs they are replacing the incandescents with would actually save substantial money to consumers and not pose a potentially serious health risks due to their high mercury levels.
My biggest complaint about the forced phasing out of incandescents is not really that I would or would not save money, it’s that the federal government feels it’s in MY best interest for me to use CFL’s, and has removed my consumer choice to purchase what I wish. The market is where this decision should be made, not Congress. If the whole of the US economy were to jump on the CFL bandwagon and largely cease the purchase of incandescent bulbs, guess what would happen… the production, and use of incandescent lighting in this country would decrease.
Forcing the change, to me, sends the message that Congress feels the consumer is ignorant, and incapable of making sound purchasing decisions… and as such should be guided by the wise hand of government to the ‘correct’ product.
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