Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

The light bulb ban provides a useful window into the mindset of liberals:
No Pasaran ^ | 01/01/2014 | No Pasaran

Posted on 01/03/2014 6:49:32 AM PST by Rusty0604

Regardless of party affiliations, true conservatives have made the old fashioned light bulb—an unassuming household item—into a symbol for something much larger. But what, exactly? At the risk of sounding melodramatic, it has become symbolic of the fight between liberty and tyranny.

The light bulb ban provides a useful window into the mindset of liberals. Here’s how they see the issue: energy-saving bulbs are better, therefore the others should be illegal. The pattern repeats itself in nearly every other realm: they determine the best policy, then impose it in a top down manner with no regard for states, localities, or individuals. Arguing with them about choice is futile because they cannot fathom the idea that the debate has nothing to do with which bulb is better, but rather who gets to decide.

Why can’t the government do that? The answer is simple: because Americans might choose the wrong one!

Liberals’ famous reverence for choice arose only because they couldn’t bring themselves to utter the word ”abortion” in a debate that is clearly about that very thing. Consequently, the word “choice” has been used so frequently in reference to the gruesome procedure that it is now universally understood to mean abortion. When a reporter asks a politician where he stands on the issue of “choice” people understand without any further context what the reporter means. (Hint: not light bulbs.)

I’m pro-choice too; pro-light bulb choice, that is

(Excerpt) Read more at no-pasaran.blogspot.com ...


TOPICS: Society
KEYWORDS: carbonfootprint; envirowhackos; greenjobs; liberalfascism; lightbulbs
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-40 next last
rest of title: the debate has nothing to do with which bulb is better, but rather who gets to decide
1 posted on 01/03/2014 6:49:32 AM PST by Rusty0604
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Rusty0604

2 posted on 01/03/2014 6:52:26 AM PST by Straight Vermonter (Posting from deep behind the Maple Curtain)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Rusty0604

Anyone have any liberal acquaintances or family members that deny that such a ban exists?

I find it “illuminating” that they deny such a thing,
because it shows that they don’t believe that government
would overstep to that extent.

It’s an opening - drive the point home.
Should the government decide what light bulbs you can use and why?


3 posted on 01/03/2014 6:54:30 AM PST by MrB (The difference between a Humanist and a Satanist - the latter admits whom he's working for)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Rusty0604

It just came to me: “Trickle Down Tyranny”

We need to mock them ceaselessly-—and never buy in to their ridiculous bulls**t.


4 posted on 01/03/2014 6:55:11 AM PST by TrueFact
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Straight Vermonter
That simple picture pretty well sums up the parochial, self-centered liberal viewpoint. They are all for choice and diversity, as long as your diversity and choices align with theirs. ;-/ The moment they are confronted with conflicting views, beliefs, or someone that just plain old wants to go their own way... So-called "liberals" turn into the biggest fascists you've ever seen. They'll demand power and control to enforce their "enlightened" viewpoint on everyone else. Hey libs, how would you like it if I forced my views on you? Not much? Then sit down and STFU. Seriously. Liberals would be wildly funny if they weren't so serious about it and if they once in a while recognized the wild hypocrisy of their world-view.
5 posted on 01/03/2014 6:59:50 AM PST by ThunderSleeps (Stop obarma now! Stop the hussein - insane agenda!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Rusty0604

13% of power plant usage is for lighting.

Conventional incandescent bulbs produce 10% light, 90% heat.

The government gets involved in requests for new power plants and their associated infrastructure (power lines, etc.). The government also gets pushed to create a wise energy policy (allow drilling, fracking, pipelines, etc.). So, yes, the government mandated more efficient light bulbs.

I’m not a big fan of CFLs - we have a few in the house. However, I love LEDs. As quickly as they develop LEDs which fit in our budget, we replace our conventional bulbs.

I’m not a big fan of our local power company. Why give them more business than I have to?


6 posted on 01/03/2014 7:06:08 AM PST by ConstantSkeptic (Be careful about preconceptions)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Rusty0604

Except that this was the work of REPUBLICAN Fred Upton and REPUBLICAN George W. Bush (follow the CFL lobbying money...)


7 posted on 01/03/2014 7:08:44 AM PST by Buckeye McFrog
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Buckeye McFrog

BINGO! We Have a Winner!


8 posted on 01/03/2014 7:13:06 AM PST by Renegade
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: Rusty0604; Kaslin; Jim Robinson; TheOldLady; laplata; All

LED bulbs contain Arsenic, and fluorescent bulbs generate Ultraviolet light.

Arsenic in landfills yields arsenic in groundwater plus skin cancer from fluorescent lights - - - hmmmmm? Forward!

Looks like Obama Socialized Health Insurance Tax (OSHIT) has arrived just in time to “fix” the planned poisoning by the Liberal Lightbulb Law (LLL)! Forward!

The Obamacrats have thus discovered even more unintended Scientific consequences in their Utopian Obamanation! Forward!

FORWARD! FORWARD! FORWARD!

( Obamacrat John “Benghazi Coverup” Boehner must so proud - - - . )


9 posted on 01/03/2014 7:13:13 AM PST by Graewoulf (Democrats' Obamacare Socialist Health Insur. Tax violates U.S. Constitution AND Anti-Trust Law.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ConstantSkeptic

If you live in an all-electric house, those incandescent bulbs are helping to keep your house warmer in the winter. There’s little or no advantage to using CFL or LED bulbs, at least during the colder times of the year.


10 posted on 01/03/2014 7:15:24 AM PST by smokingfrog ( sleep with one eye open (<o> ---)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: Buckeye McFrog

If a politician writes a Bill like a Liberal, and votes like a Liberal, and celebrates the signing of a Liberal Bill into a Federal Law like a Liberal, then that politician is a Liberal, even if the last name is Dole, McCain, Romney, Bush, Upton, McConnell, Boehner; Cantor, or Ryan.

“Judge politicians by what they do, and not by what they say.”


11 posted on 01/03/2014 7:24:44 AM PST by Graewoulf (Democrats' Obamacare Socialist Health Insur. Tax violates U.S. Constitution AND Anti-Trust Law.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: Rusty0604

Bottom line is, they don’t believe in the free market or freedom of choice generally (see Obamacare).

So even when they happen to stumble upon a good idea, they ruin it by making it mandated by the federal government.

Just yesterday here in Minnesota, a democrat state legislator introduced a bill to make the app that allows you to track down your missing cellphone MANDATORY. You and I would say, let the manufacturers treat it as a feature to attract buyers to their product versus another one, but they see themselves as the arbiter of what you need and so you don’t get a choice (even if it raises the price of the item).


12 posted on 01/03/2014 7:34:01 AM PST by MNnice
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: smokingfrog

I live in the upper midwest. Our high on Monday is predicted to be -15 degrees. My highest heating bill in the past 8 years has been $163. My highest electric bill during air conditioning weather, has been $249. Heating the house by light bulbs isn’t very efficient, and it’s expensive to pay for the A/C to offset their heat during the summer. So, again, I’ll buy LED bulbs.


13 posted on 01/03/2014 7:38:16 AM PST by ConstantSkeptic (Be careful about preconceptions)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: ConstantSkeptic

I’m all for saving money, just not the government mandating what kind of bulbs I can or can’t buy. For certain applications, I would prefer to purchase a 100 watt to 150 watt bulb - like the lamp next to my bed or sofa, where I might be reading. It’s not going to be left on for long periods of time, so the extra energy usage is negligible.


14 posted on 01/03/2014 7:45:34 AM PST by smokingfrog ( sleep with one eye open (<o> ---)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: MNnice

Another insane proposal. People are just too stupid to decide for themselves if they want to purchase an app?


15 posted on 01/03/2014 7:54:12 AM PST by Rusty0604
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: ConstantSkeptic
It's your choice...that's the point. I will use my 100-watters as long as I can. To do my part for conservation, I walk around the house with a flashlight and never have more than one bulb on at a time. That's my choice.

PS....are you one of those people with light bulbs that save the planet and a huge TV screen for your viewing pleasure?

16 posted on 01/03/2014 7:55:26 AM PST by grania
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: ConstantSkeptic

It’s about the freedom to choose, not whether one form of lighting is more efficient or not.


17 posted on 01/03/2014 7:58:55 AM PST by TADSLOS (The Event Horizon has come and gone. Buckle up and hang on.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: MNnice
Just yesterday here in Minnesota, a democrat state legislator introduced a bill to make the app that allows you to track down your missing cellphone MANDATORY.

The Minnesota legislature isn't in session yet.

18 posted on 01/03/2014 8:01:37 AM PST by ConstantSkeptic (Be careful about preconceptions)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: TrueFact

Lest we forget. A Republican proposed the ban and George W. Bush signed it!


19 posted on 01/03/2014 8:21:19 AM PST by Jimmy Valentine (DemocRATS - when they speak, they lie; when they are silent, they are stealing the American Dream)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Rusty0604

I find it hard to believe that FedGov would regulate something as absurd as what kind of light bulb we can use. That’s as absurd as if they regulated how much water a toilet can flush or how big a soft drink we could buy. No one really wants that much government in their lives, do they?


20 posted on 01/03/2014 8:29:24 AM PST by Pollster1 ("Shall not be infringed" is unambiguous.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-40 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson