The entire US must change to CFL bulbs by 2016! It's the law! Good or Bad? (page 7)

Indo_Dude

My god, do you people ever stop bitching?

First you think government owes you something, then you get pissed off when they try to do something good for the environment. Make up your minds, or do you just like to bitch?

Annoying if you ask me.

hillary_step

This is insane.

Perhaps those who resent intrusion by government into this issue might answer a couple of questions:

Does the government of the US have the right to mandate ANYTHING at all? If so, to what level?

All government inspired mandates offer some sort of 'personal intrusion'. Some however, for example, the mandate to ensure all water supplied for human consumption is fit to drink does not seem to be viewed as an 'intrusion'. Of course you have the right to drink polluted water if you so care!

If it can be shown that the banning of conventional bulbs in favor of CFL bulbs produces some good for the COMMUNITY, then NOT to mandate such a change would be the actions of an irresponsible government.

HS

DanTheMan

Only on JWD, does a thread about cfl's go for four pages complete with an extended quote from some libertarian text. Gimme a break!!! The gov't regulates INNUMERABLE aspects related to food and consumer products!

"The government oughta do something about the price of gas! It's outrageous! Why don't they do something! BUT STAY THE HELL AWAY FROM MY FILAMENT LIGHT BULBS THERE BIG BROTHER!!!"

RubaDub

All government inspired mandates offer some sort of 'personal intrusion'. Some however, for example, the mandate to ensure all water supplied for human consumption is fit to drink does not seem to be viewed as an 'intrusion'. Of course you have the right to drink polluted water if you so care!

Hillary ....

I wish I could have made my point in a more concise way as you did.

Virtually everything we touch, eat, drink or look at has some government intervention. It's hard to think of something that doesn't have some sort of standard or regulation that assures it to be as safe as reasonably possible.

Does the government go too far at times ..of course.

But take a look at what recently happened with imports from China ... I don't want my daughter (toys) or dog (dog food) to get exposed to those dangers if a govenment can enforce reasonable regulations.

And we're making such a big deal over energy-saving lightbulbs. You figure.

Rub a Dub

amicus

If it can be shown that the banning of conventional bulbs in favor of CFL bulbs produces some good for the COMMUNITY, then NOT to mandate such a change would be the actions of an irresponsible government.

That statement is true of course. What is just as true is that sometimes legislators pass laws that are more flawed than necessary.

One of the responsibilities of citizens in a representative form of government is to vote. Another responsibility is to discuss with your peers the laws that your government enacts. The next step is support those laws, or try to have them rescinded.

This is one of the forums we citizens can use to discuss the laws our elected leaders adopt. I always vote (jw years excluded). I also like to hear opposing views.

I oppose that piece of legislation, not because it isn't well intentioned, but because I think it's impractical with the options available today and very probably available when this will go into effect.

I stated the reasons I was opposed, and one of them was refuted. I'm glad it was refuted. This "Town Hall", as it were, is one of the ways I learn. I haven't read enough here to change my view, but I will...if I can be convinced that this law won't create more problems than it solves.

I would embrace a bill that "taxes" the use of incandescents to fund solar energy research, but I think elimination isn't practical at this time.

llbh

OM MY FILAMThe government oughta do something about the price of gas! It's outrageous! Why don't they do something! BUT STAY THE HELL AWAY FRENT LIGHT BULBS THERE BIG BROTHER!!!"

They did they invade Iraq , then threatened Iran !!

David

FlyingHighNow

or do you just like to bitch?
Annoying if you ask me.

Evidently you like to bitch.

I understand that the government will mandate and regulate things. And as long as it makes sense and is practical then so be it. Have you seen the size of those bulbs? And hopefully people are at least asking themselves why all of these bulbs are coming from China.

SixofNine

"And hopefully people are at least asking themselves why all of these bulbs are coming from China."

Uhm, because that's where most things like that are manufactured nowadays? You can buy CFLs made in America. You can buy incandescent made in China.

You can buy CFLs that are the same size as incandescent.

And by 2016, there will probably be good LED replacements for both.

hillary_step

Amicus,

If it can be shown that the banning of conventional bulbs in favor of CFL bulbs produces some good for the COMMUNITY, then NOT to mandate such a change would be the actions of an irresponsible government.
That statement is true of course. What is just as true is that sometimes legislators pass laws that are more flawed than necessary.

Government, like the law, works on the reality of approximation, not perfection, but with all respect, this has nothing to do with the point.

The fact is that it is necessary for responsible Government to 'intrude' into peoples personal choices over numerous matters. That it might get some of its mandates wrong some of the time is a given, but this does not undermine the principle of the necessity of government intervention in any way. If CFL bulbs better serve the community, as they do, then it would be irresponsible for them not to mandate their use.

It seems to me that the US is terrified of anything that might even remotely be interpreted as 'socialism' with the same rationality that they might view witches in Salem.

HS

amicus

You can buy CFLs that are the same size as incandescent.

Where? I've never seen a CFL that isn't medium base. If, the major light manufacturers are making other base configuerations, why aren't they available now? It's possible to make other configuerations of course, but why not ease into this technology rather than demanding it?

And by 2016, there will probably be good LED replacements for both.

When those LED replacements are available I'm with you. That isn't the only option either, but this is like beating the donkey to move faster rather than the old carrot on a stick.

The entire US must change to CFL bulbs by 2016! It's the law! Good or Bad?

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