Sometimes I am amazed by news stories that basically go in one ear of the American people and right out the other, when they should be marching in the streets with furious anger.
Are you aware that President Bush recently signed a law approved by Congress that will phase out the incandescent light bulb - you know, the one Edison gave us that we all use today? - by the year 2014, which is just 6 short years away. Naturally, it always comes back to global warming, because the bulb ban is being touted as a way to keep 100 million tons of carbon dioxide out of the air every year. Of course, compared to the CO2 emissions of volcanos and cow farts, 100 million tons pales in comparison.
So what is to take the place of our current light bulbs? Try those buzzing, flickering, annoying flourescent light bulbs that give me a massive headache. The flourescent bulbs that are filled with mercury and are not even supposed to be thrown away in the regular garbage on trash day.
Now, you can argue with me about the merits of the two bulbs, and whether the energy savings makes the law worth it, but here's the problem: please point out to me that part of the Constitution which grants Congress and the President the power to tell me what kind of light bulb I can use. I'd love to hear it.
Once again, our federal government has way overstepped its bounds, and applied an unconstitutional one-size-fits-all law to the American people which is unnecessary to begin with. When a better bulb comes along, I will be the first to switch over, but how dare our government dictate to me what kind of frickin' light bulb I'm going to use.
It is easy to wave this off as a trivial matter - it's not. It is a classic case of the camel getting his nose under the tent. The government keeps seeing what it can get away with, and when they find that no one protests about light bulbs, then they move on to the next life-controlling law.
Always remember ladies and gentlemen: every law passed by our government represents one more freedom that has been taken away from us. When is enough going to be enough?
I'll tell you one thing: for the next few years, I shall be stocking up and hoarding incandescent light bulbs. Start buying them now, because the price will be going up as other people figure out that these nitwits in Washington are actually serious.
Good Day to You, Sir
"If a nation expects to be ignorant and free... it expects what never was, and never will be." --Thomas Jefferson
5 comments:
I know what you mean. I have been very concerned with the approach of this bill.
The government is getting too much into our lives. How long will it be until we are legislated into a specific car (hybrid or electric), specific bags (plastic) at stores, and dozens of other proposals that do nothing but placate the liberals and wacko tree huggers?
The good thing is I will not be around to see it.
This country is a shadow of its former self. We will never regain the pride, glory, and conservative lifestyle that made us great.
And guess where those lightbulbs are made??? China.
Edison? You mean the talentless hack, who was beaten to the invention of the lightbulb by a Mr Swann of England? :P
Maybe it's time to run for office. . . .
CFL's are not supposed to be used in enclosed fixtures or recessed lights. Most of the fixtures in my house are enclosed globes.
Also, did you hear about the proposal (that was defeated in the Legislature, maybe didn't get out of committee) that was going to put a controller on thermostats so that *power companies* could adjust your home temperature if a brownout looked imminent? Not an urban legend, either.
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