Market choice? You don’t say! [Darleen Click]
On the heels of the closing of America’s last light bulb factory , a few Repubican members of Congress will attempt to chip away at the Nanny State. [Republican Joe Barton of Texas] said that in 2007 when the Clean Energy Act passed, the reasoning for the phasing out of incandescent bulbs was that over the course of five years, technology would advance , so that by the time incandescent bulbs were fully phased out, there would be more energy efficient, cheaper technology to replace it, so it wouldn’t be a problem for consumers. But since that hasn’t happened , he said, it is necessary to reevaluate the ban. What? Inventing wasn’t done according Congress’ time schedule? I’m shocked! By the way, I’m still waiting for my promised flying car … What’s more, CFLs contain mercury, creating a potentially dangerous situation if one breaks. The EPA recommends that if you break a CFL bulb, everyone should evacuate while the room is aired out for at least fifteen minutes. If the mercury gets onto any bedding or clothing, those articles should be thrown out. It’s a rather extreme procedure to cope with a commonplace accident. As [Republican Michael] Burgess put it, you’re practically “supposed to call a HAZMAT team if you break a bulb.†For both congressmen, the economic concerns outweigh the environmental concerns. “I’m not opposed to the energy saving bulbs at all,†Barton said, “but I say let the consumers make the choice, instead of mandating .â€
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Market choice? You don’t say! [Darleen Click]