Yes ladies and gentlemen, in case you haven’t heard, our massive, out-of-control federal bureaucracy has decided incandescent bulbs represent such a dire threat to the planet that they simply can’t allow any more to be manufactured. As of January 1st,
 

…the sale of traditional 100-watt incandescent light bulbs will become illegal in the United States. Twelve months later, the same fate will befall most 75-watt incandescents, and one year after that, conventional 60- and 40-watt bulbs will be gone as well.

 
This idiocy was pushed by the Department of Energy, rammed through by a Democratic congress, and signed into law by George W. Bush, back in 2007. Ostensibly, the legislation was aimed at protecting the environment (based, of course, on the junk science behind man-made global warming) but the move was really just another display of D.C.’s dishonest dealing:

The use of efficiency mandates to snuff out the standard light bulb was an exercise of unadulterated crony capitalism. It came about after big bulb manufacturers, frustrated by their customers’ refusal to switch from cheap throwaway incandescents to the far more profitable compact fluorescents touted by greens, decided to play hardball…

The manufacturers got together, organized, and lobbied Congress –

…to croak a product Americans overwhelmingly like and compel them to buy the more expensive substitute the industry was eager to sell them. The entire scheme, a lobbyist for the National Electrical Manufacturers Association testified candidly in 2007, was “at the industry’s initiative.’’ Unable to convince consumers to voluntarily abandon Edison’s light bulb, Big Business got the government to force the issue. [Source]

 
But even more importantly, beyond the corrupt politics-as-usual, the new CFLs (compact fluorescent lights) that they’re foisting on us to replace the incandescents, can be seriously hazardous to your health. The problem is that the cute curly bulbs contain mercury, which is a neurotoxin and considered hazardous waste. If one happens to break, it releases gaseous mercury. When initially turned on, they release chemicals into the atmosphere that are known to cause cancer. Even better, CFLs operate at a much higher frequency than incandescent bulbs, causing them to emit UV radiation. What’s not to love?
 
Last month, our local radio station, WJR-Detroit, interviewed Dr. Magda Havas, of Trent University in Ontario, who has studied this issue in depth and believes “governments shouldn’t be promoting CFLs – they should be banning them.”
Among the health-related problems attributed to CFLs are:
 
• Mild to severe Headaches (Migraines)
• Skin Irritation, redness, burning sensations, and or itchiness
• Dizziness and Nausea
• Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) and Earaches
• Numbness and Tingling sensations
• Tired, Weak and Fatigued
• Difficulty Sleeping / Restlessness
• Chest Pains / Heart Problems
• Poor Memory and Concentration
• Irritability
• Feelings of Stress and Anxiety
• Depression and Mood Swings
• Difficulty breathing
• Muscle and joint pain
• Pain and pressure in the eyes

 
Gee – hard to believe that our nanny-state politicians might not really have our health and well-being as a top priority isn’t it?
Actually, the bulb-ban suits their devious purposes just fine. Appearing to have the best of intentions, making a phony show of saving the environment, they actually jeopardize the health of millions of Americans, and steal our freedom of choice as consumers, all the while they’re getting paid off by lobbyists. They probably call it a “win-win.”
I call it nefarious.
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So if you’re looking for a Christmas gift that really says “I love you” – buy a bunch of 100 watts – before they’re all gone. All my peeps are getting a bag-full!
 
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Related:
CFL Impact ~ Get the Facts. Everything you need to know about Compact Fluorescent Lights.
Do CFL twisty bulbs explode? ~ Maybe not frequently. But when they do – watch out!
Time to stock up on light bulbs ~ Washington Times Nov. 26th editorial.
Confessions of a Light Bulb Addict ~ When is it the job of the government to ban a light bulb?!
How many lawmakers does it take to… ~ Jeff Jacoby at the Boston Globe documents the cronyism behind this incandescent ban sham.