Q: How many congresspersons does it take to change a light bulb?
A: As many as crony capitalist CFL bulb manufacturers can to afford to buy off!
According to Jeff Jacoby, the incandescent ban, passed in the Democrat-controlled Congress in 2007 but not vetoed by President Bush, has less to do with saving the planet or keeping Al Gore’s mansion from floating away and more to do with bulb-makers’ profits:
On paper, [the law’s] purpose is to increase energy efficiency by requiring that bulbs produce more light per watt. But by setting the new standards higher than the common incandescent can reach, the law’s real-world effect is to deprive most Americans of the freedom to buy the light bulbs they prefer. Instead, they will be forced to spend more money for fragile halogen bulbs or for the swirled compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) that have been around for decades but that most consumers have never wanted to buy.
The use of efficiency mandates to snuff out the standard light bulb was an exercise of unadulterated crony capitalism. It came about after big bulb manufacturers, frustrated by their customers’ refusal to switch from cheap throwaway incandescents to the far more profitable compact fluorescents touted by greens, decided to play hardball.
Build a better mousetrap and the world will beat a path to your door, especially if you contribute generously to enough greedy scumbag politicians who’ll mandate it.
By the way, the Germans circumvented their weasel-fuhrers’ ban on incandescents by selling them as “heat bulbs.” Don’t know about you, but we’re starting to feel a bit chilly ourselves.
– Written by Bonfire of the Absurdities
Source: Boston.com
