CFLs - the bulb everyone except the government hates

[PearlSB4U]

What right does the federal government have that allows it to tell me what kind of light bulb I can buy?

Seems like we need to debate Basic Philosophies of Government:

IF you accept that humans are social animals, & will live in groups, Then, maybe you'll accept that "government" is the institution that humans use to make & administer the rules/policies for living in groups.

Q: When should a government have the right/power to dictate certain things to individual citizens?
A: when--without such right/power--individual actions would be too detrimental to the group as a whole.

As a group, by consensus, we've decided that certain actions are illegal: running red lights, polluting the environment, killing, stealing...
We've also decided that cars must have a minimum mpg rating.
Likewise, we (the gov't) can decide that light bulbs must have a minimum efficiency rating.

It all comes down to the rights & responsibilities of the individual vs. the rights & responsibilities of the group.

 

[30ashopper]

Using significantly less resources for equivalent performance is the right decision period. Everything shouldn't be viewed only through the short sighted lens of politics. Looking at the big picture and our worlds dwindling resources is the more responsible route. Unfortunately some just have political axes to grind to everyone elses detriment. It's refreshing to have our government realize that.

If CFL's were shown to consume more resources (Amercian jobs lost, personal income expended, basic resources used, expenses related to disposal, non-renewable energy consumed) than incandescents, this would then be a bad decision correct?

Shopper--I am a totally rational human being, and, I too love CFL's (and now they even come in bright white and soft white). I hope next the government will totally ban plastic bags and water bottles in the U.S.(like the evil Chinaese gov't). Come on Shopper, I think just about everyone needs a little something shoved down their throats every now and then, even if it is the big, bad Government--better them than Monsanto.

I don't. I believe in freedom and individual responsiblity.

 

[poppy]

Then stop wearing your seatbelt and argue with the patrol officer you were just exercising your freedom and individual responsiblity.

 

[LuciferSam]

I cant' tell the difference in my ceiling lights. Right now I have one odd CFL next to the incandescents.

 

[Bob]

i believe in freedom, and individual responsibility to more than my own selfish desires

 

[Lake View Too]

i believe in freedom, and individual responsibility to more than my own selfish desires

Dang, what kind of American are you, showing responsibility to the entire planet?

 

[30ashopper]

Seems like we need to debate Basic Philosophies of Government:

IF you accept that humans are social animals, & will live in groups, Then, maybe you'll accept that "government" is the institution that humans use to make & administer the rules/policies for living in groups.

Q: When should a government have the right/power to dictate certain things to individual citizens?
A: when--without such right/power--individual actions would be too detrimental to the group as a whole.

As a group, by consensus, we've decided that certain actions are illegal: running red lights, polluting the environment, killing, stealing...
We've also decided that cars must have a minimum mpg rating.
Likewise, we (the gov't) can decide that light bulbs must have a minimum efficiency rating.

It all comes down to the rights & responsibilities of the individual vs. the rights & responsibilities of the group.

AFAIC the only rules/policies the federal government has a right to enact must meet Constitution muster. (You might disagree with me on this.) States on the other hand have more control. For example, the state of California outlawed incandescent prior to the federal ban. What you're doing is taking this one step too far - you are attempting to apply control never granted to you. This failure outweighs any good you might think you are doing.

 

[30ashopper]

i believe in freedom, and individual responsibility to more than my own selfish desires

If my house is powered by solar, why should I not be allowed to use a certain type of light bulb? If I decide to cut down on my energy consumption by working from home, or riding a bike to work instead of using CFLs, why should I be punished by the government by being forced to use a certain type of bulb as well?

 

[LuciferSam]

I will say this though. I loves me my plastic shopping bags. I'll stock up on those. I hate those dorky tote bags.

 

[PearlSB4U]

AFAIC the only rules/policies the federal government has a right to enact must meet Constitution muster. (You might disagree with me on this.) States on the other hand have more control. For example, the state of California outlawed incandescent prior to the federal ban. What you're doing is taking this one step too far - you are attempting to apply control never granted to you. This failure outweighs any good you might think you are doing.

Now you've focused the debate on our system of Federalism--& what rights the Fed Gov't has vis-a-vis the State Govts vis-a-vis individual citizens. OK, I'll accept that under our system of Federalism, the rights/powers granted to the Fed Govt are different from those granted to the States. If I understand what you're saying, then, you agree that a State Govt has the right/power to set a minimum efficiency for the manufacture & sale of light bulbs?