Nanny-State Politicians Forcing Us to Use Inferior Light Bulbs

September 6, 2009 by Dan Mitchell

First, the politicians forced us to buy low-volume toilets that require multiple flushes. Then they mandated that we use front-loading washing machines that don’t clean as well. Now, the parasites in Washington want to compel us to use light bulbs that don’t illuminate properly. A lighting expert explains in the Wall Street Journal – and also suggests that maybe the politicians should live under these rules before they impose them on the rest of us:

The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 will effectively phase out incandescent light bulbs by 2012-2014 in favor of compact fluorescent lamps, or CFLs. Other countries around the world have passed similar legislation to ban most incandescents. Will some energy be saved? Probably. The problem is this benefit will be more than offset by rampant dissatisfaction with lighting. We are not talking about giving up a small luxury for the greater good. We are talking about compromising light. Light is fundamental. And light is obviously for people, not buildings. The primary objective in the design of any space is to make it comfortable and habitable. This is most critical in homes, where this law will impact our lives the most. …CFLs, which can be an excellent choice for some applications, are simply not an equivalent technology to incandescents in all applications. For example, if you have dimmers used for home theater or general ambience, you must buy a compatible dimmable CFL, which costs more, and even then it may not work as desired on your dimmers. How environmental will it be for frustrated homeowners to remove and dispose of thousands of dimmers? What’s more, CFLs work best in light fixtures designed for CFLs, and may not fit, provide desired service life, or distribute light in the same pleasing pattern as incandescents. How environmental will it be for homeowners to tear out and install new light fixtures? …Here’s my modest proposal to determine whether the legislation actually serves people. Satisfy the proposed power limits in all public buildings, from museums, houses of worship and hospitals to the White House and the homes of all elected officials. Of course, this will include replacing all incandescents with CFLs. At the end of 18 months, we would check to be certain that the former lighting had not been reinstalled, and survey all users to determine satisfaction with the resulting lighting.

Posted in Big Government, Government stupidity, Hypocrisy, nanny state, Politicians | Tagged Hypocrisy, Light bulbs, nanny state, Politicians | 54 Comments

54 Responses

on January 11, 2023 at 10:43 am Another Bureaucratic Attack on Lifestyle Quality (and Freedom of Choice) | International Liberty

[…] Inferior light bulbs […]
on July 17, 2021 at 6:20 pm Daniel Mitchell article The Left’s Dependency Agenda, Part I | The Daily Hatch

[…] Inferior light bulbs […]
on February 13, 2021 at 2:41 am OPEN LETTER TO BARACK OBAMA ON HIS AUTOBIOGRAPHY “A PROMISED LAND” Part 84 WELFARE NANNY STATE “we debated whether…certain regulations were discouraging innovation, whether the “nanny state” was sapping individual initiative” | The Daily

[…] Inferior light bulbs […]
on January 28, 2021 at 2:37 am OPEN LETTER TO BARACK OBAMA ON HIS AUTOBIOGRAPHY “A PROMISED LAND” Part 68 WELFARE NANNY STATE “we debated…whether the “nanny state” was sapping…initiative” Jeffrey Tucker notes, “Soap doesn’t work. Toilets don’t flush. Cloth

[…] Inferior light bulbs […]
on December 21, 2020 at 6:01 pm Daniel Mitchell article “The Pro-Growth Impact of Deregulation” | The Daily Hatch

[…] Inferior light bulbs […]
on December 17, 2020 at 2:02 pm Another Initiative to Improve the Quality of Life from the Trump Administration – Breaking News

[…] Inferior light bulbs […]
on December 17, 2020 at 12:53 pm Another Initiative to Improve the Quality of Life from the Trump Administration | International Liberty

[…] Inferior light bulbs […]
on November 25, 2020 at 6:20 pm TRUMP TO THE RESCUE! For years American homes have been stuck with dishwashers that take forever and still don’t get the job done. A new Department of Energy rule…will help change that. …Regulations on energy and water usage—tightened in 2013 by t

[…] Inferior light bulbs […]
on November 25, 2020 at 1:22 pm A Genuine Quality-of-Life Achievement from the Trump Administration | International Liberty

[…] Inferior light bulbs […]
on December 21, 2019 at 12:27 pm Government Mandates and Crummy Dishwashers | International Liberty

[…] Inferior light bulbs […]
on September 30, 2019 at 4:13 am The Recycling Folly | Frontier Centre For Public Policy

[…] don’t understand cost-benefit analysis. As such, they make our lives less pleasant – inferior light bulbs, substandard toilets, inadequate washing machines, crummy dishwashers, dribbling showers, […]
on August 31, 2019 at 3:06 pm The Recycling Folly: One More Way America Allows Itself To Get Ripped Off | Jim Campbell's

[…] such, they make our lives less pleasant – inferior light bulbs, substandard toilets, inadequate washing machines, crummy dishwashers, dribbling showers, and […]
on August 31, 2019 at 9:50 am The Recycling Folly | International Liberty

[…] don’t understand cost-benefit analysis. As such, they make our lives less pleasant – inferior light bulbs, substandard toilets, inadequate washing machines, crummy dishwashers, dribbling showers, and […]
on March 27, 2018 at 10:18 am Three Great Moments in Regulation | International Liberty

[…] Inferior light bulbs […]
on January 31, 2018 at 9:07 am The Nanny State’s War to Lower the Quality of Life | International Liberty

[…] Inferior light bulbs […]
on September 27, 2017 at 12:05 pm How the United Kingdom Can Prosper in a Post-Brexit World | International Liberty

[…] As much as I despise the busybodies in Washington for subjecting me to inferior light bulbs, substandard toilets, second-rate dishwashers, weak-flow showerheads, and inadequate washing […]
on September 27, 2017 at 11:07 am Those About to Die Deserve the Right to Try · 2ViewNews

[…] When I think of how government regulation impacts my life, my list contains minor nuisances such as inferior light bulbs, substandard toilets, second-rate dishwashers, weak-flow showerheads, and inadequate washing […]
on September 11, 2017 at 9:46 am Overcoming FDA Bureaucracy and Saving Lives with Expanded “Right to Try” - Senior Americans Association

[…] When I think of how government regulation impacts my life, my list contains minor nuisances such as inferior light bulbs, substandard toilets, second-rate dishwashers, weak-flow showerheads, and inadequate washing […]
on September 9, 2017 at 8:35 am Overcoming FDA Bureaucracy and Saving Lives with Expanded “Right to Try” | International Liberty

[…] When I think of how government regulation impacts my life, my list contains minor nuisances such as inferior light bulbs, substandard toilets, second-rate dishwashers, weak-flow showerheads, and inadequate washing […]
on June 27, 2017 at 9:49 am Guest Column: Government Does Not Belong in Our Showers – the muddy otter

[…] Inferior light bulbs […]
on June 20, 2017 at 6:00 am How environmentalism makes your life worse – Steve Prestegard.com: The Presteblog

[…] Inferior light bulbs […]
on June 19, 2017 at 2:50 pm The Nanny State, Showerheads, and the Declining Quality of Life | International Liberty

[…] Inferior light bulbs […]
on March 19, 2017 at 11:43 am Research from European Central Bank Measures How Regulation Stifles Growth and Reduces Living Standards | International Liberty

[…] relatively easy to demonstrate how certain regulations make our lives less pleasant (inferior light bulbs, substandard toilets, inadequate washing machines, crummy dishwashers, […]
on November 23, 2016 at 12:15 pm Deadly, Expensive, and Foolish Policies from the Food and Drug Administration | International Liberty

[…] health. And don’t forget that bureaucratic red tape is the reason we’re now forced to use inferior light bulbs, substandard toilets, second-rate dishwashers, and inadequate washing […]
on April 21, 2016 at 1:35 pm Regulation Nation | Lex Rex for All

[…] on businesses, don’t forget that bureaucratic red tape is the reason we’re now forced to use inferior light bulbs, substandard toilets, second-rate dishwashers, and inadequate washing […]
on April 21, 2016 at 1:12 pm Regulation Nation | International Liberty

[…] on businesses, don’t forget that bureaucratic red tape is the reason we’re now forced to use inferior light bulbs, substandard toilets, second-rate dishwashers, and inadequate washing […]
on December 30, 2015 at 4:59 pm Regulatory State Grew to Record Levels in 2015, Red-Tape Burden Will Worsen in 2016 | People's Pundit Daily

[…] on businesses, don’t forget that bureaucratic red tape is the reason we’re now forced to use inferior light bulbs, substandard toilets, second-rate dishwashers, and inadequate washing […]
on December 30, 2015 at 1:49 pm The Regulatory State Grew to Record Levels in 2015, and the Red-Tape Burden Will Get even Worse in 2016 | International Liberty

[…] don’t forget that bureaucratic red tape is the reason we’re now forced to use inferior light bulbs, substandard toilets, second-rate dishwashers, and inadequate washing […]
on November 28, 2015 at 2:28 pm More Regulation: Bad for Jobs and Entrepreneurship, Good for Corporate Cronies | Tea Party News

[…] pinheads in Washington think they have the right to plague us with crummy dishwashers,inferior light bulbs, substandard toilets, and inadequate washing […]
on November 26, 2015 at 10:28 am More Regulation: Bad for Jobs and Entrepreneurship, Good for Corporate Cronies | International Liberty

[…] Bureaucratic pinheads in Washington think they have the right to plague us with crummy dishwashers, inferior light bulbs, substandard toilets, and inadequate washing […]
on August 9, 2015 at 5:09 pm A Case Study of How Regulation Harms Poor People | International Liberty | Lex Rex for All

[…] of regulatory foolishness, such as silly rules that force consumers to use crummy dishwashers, inferior light bulbs, substandard toilets, and inadequate washing […]
on August 9, 2015 at 4:33 pm A Case Study of How Regulation Harms Poor People | International Liberty

[…] of regulatory foolishness, such as silly rules that force consumers to use crummy dishwashers, inferior light bulbs, substandard toilets, and inadequate washing […]
on July 29, 2015 at 10:09 am The Regulatory State’s War against Modern Life | Lex Rex for All

[…] regular people. Lots of ordinary citizens, for instance, are irked that they’re now forced to use inferior light bulbs, substandard toilets, and inadequate washing machines because of regulatory silliness from […]
on July 29, 2015 at 9:41 am The Regulatory State’s War against Modern Life | International Liberty

[…] people. Lots of ordinary citizens, for instance, are irked that they’re now forced to use inferior light bulbs, substandard toilets, and inadequate washing machines because of regulatory silliness from […]
on June 3, 2015 at 11:35 am The Denny Hastert Scandal: When Bad Things Happen to Bad People for the Wrong Reasons | International Liberty

[…] nanny-state light bulbs are just the tip of the iceberg. Here’s another […]
on February 10, 2015 at 4:19 pm The Radical Environmental Agenda Should Be Rejected, even if Global Warming Is Real | Lex Rex for All

[…] The environmentalist-driven war on high-quality light bulbs. […]
on October 14, 2013 at 7:31 am Cartoons from Dan Mitchell’s blog that demonstrate how stupid government can be | The Daily Hatch

[…] written about the government’s war on consumer-friendly light bulbs (and also similar attacks on working toilets and washing machines that actually clean), so I’m […]
on November 24, 2012 at 1:16 pm Government – Mandating Sub-Standard Washing Machines | USA Prepares.com Vincent Finelli

[…] our quality of life. These are the same jackasses, after all, that are in the process of requiring us to use crummy light bulbs. And they’ve already coerced us into ridiculous “low-flow” toilets that don’t work very […]
on July 8, 2012 at 5:13 pm “Feedback Friday” Letter to White House generated form letter response June 15, 2012 on Healthcare (part 8) « HaltingArkansasLiberalswithTruth

[…] written about the government’s war on consumer-friendly light bulbs (and also similar attacks on working toilets and washing machines that actually clean), so I’m […]
on July 8, 2012 at 7:05 am Open letter to President Obama (Part 102) « HaltingArkansasLiberalswithTruth

[…] written about the government’s war on consumer-friendly light bulbs (and also similar attacks on working toilets and washing machines that actually clean), so I’m […]
on April 7, 2012 at 7:10 am The Face of Authoritarian Environmentalism ~ professor Kari Norgaard - Neo-Stalinism - ALIPAC

[…] Racists Daniel J. Mitchell Sign-Up I’ve written about the government’s war on light bulbs, its rule against working toilets, and its prohibition of washing machines that actually clean, so […]
on March 21, 2012 at 4:20 pm Arkansas Times praises good results of Obamacare « HaltingArkansasLiberalswithTruth

[…] written about the government’s war on consumer-friendly light bulbs (and also similar attacks on working toilets and washing machines that actually clean), so I’m […]
on March 19, 2012 at 12:38 pm Government Stupidity Defies Satire When a $50 Light Bulb Wins an Affordability Prize | MTR

[…] written about the government’s war on consumer-friendly light bulbs (and also similar attacks on working toilets and washing machines that actually clean), so […]
on March 16, 2012 at 7:56 pm Government Stupidity Defies Satire When a $50 Light Bulb Wins an Affordability Prize | Sago

[…] written about the government’s war on consumer-friendly light bulbs (and also similar attacks on working toilets and washing machines that actually clean), so I’m […]
on March 16, 2012 at 11:29 am Government Stupidity Defies Satire When a $50 Light Bulb Wins an Affordability Prize « International Liberty

[…] written about the government’s war on consumer-friendly light bulbs (and also similar attacks on working toilets and washing machines that actually clean), so […]
on December 2, 2011 at 1:10 pm “I’ll Give You my 100-Watt Bulbs When You Pry Them from my Cold, Dead Hands!” « International Liberty

[…] the 100-watt bulb doesn’t provide enough light to compensate for the dark and malignant impact of politicians. In less than one month, stores no longer will be allowed to sell these bulbs – and will […]
on October 2, 2011 at 9:16 am The Sun Rises in the East, the Pope is Catholic, Democrats Push for Tax Hikes…and Republicans Often Are the Stupid Party « International Liberty

[…] Yes, I know that the GOP has earned its reputation as being the Stupid Party. And, yes, I realize the Democrats only need one Republican to capitulate and that the six GOPers on the super committee include several potential weak links – such as Cong. Fred Upton, the clown who gave us the light bulb ban. […]
on March 18, 2011 at 9:12 pm How Government Condemned Us to Dirty Clothes by Mandating Sub-Standard Washing Machines « The Market Center Blog

[…] our quality of life. These are the same jackasses, after all, that are in the process of requiring us to use crummy light bulbs. And they’ve already coerced us into ridiculous “low-flow” toilets that don’t work very […]
on March 17, 2011 at 1:27 pm How Government Condemned Us to Dirty Clothes by Mandating Sub-Standard Washing Machines « Sago

[…] our quality of life. These are the same jackasses, after all, that are in the process of requiring us to use crummy light bulbs. And they’ve already coerced us into ridiculous “low-flow” toilets that don’t work very […]
on March 17, 2011 at 10:07 am How Government Condemned Us to Dirty Clothes by Mandating Sub-Standard Washing Machines « International Liberty

[…] our quality of life. These are the same jackasses, after all, that are in the process of requiring us to use crummy light bulbs. And they’ve already coerced us into ridiculous “low-flow” toilets that […]
on March 9, 2011 at 7:29 pm GOP Congressman Gives Good Speech against New Government-Mandated Toxic Lightbulbs « The Market Center Blog

[…] readers of this blog already know (see here, here, and here) that I’m not a big fan of the new “CFL” light bulbs that we will be forced […]
on January 6, 2011 at 6:19 pm The Politicians Are Taking Away Our Light, so We Should Make Them Feel the Heat « The Market Center Blog

[…] 3, 2011 by Dan Mitchell I’ve already commented here and here on the government forcing us to use inferior […]
on January 3, 2011 at 1:15 pm The Politicians Are Taking Away Our Light, so We Should Make Them Feel the Heat « International Liberty

[…] 3, 2011 by Dan Mitchell I’ve already commented here and here on the government forcing us to use inferior […]
on January 5, 2010 at 9:07 pm natural spectrum lamp

Couldn’t have said it better myself. Thanks for the great post. I have meant to write a similar story on my site. Looks like you got there first. Cheers.

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