[RANGERAIRBORNE]

Absolutely right. I used to go through that miserable untangling of Christmas tree lghts, looking for the bad bulb, and trying to replace it without ruining the little wire prongs (a task that usually required several beers). Also, we used to re-use the outdoor lights for years (not a safe practice, especially in a severe Northern climate like Alaska, where insulation cracks so easily).

Now I go to WAL-MART or COSTCO and buy new lights- right AFTER Christmas, and put them away for next year.

Only one example of a product that is much more affordable with "free trade".

[StatesEnemy]

Also, we used to re-use the outdoor lights for years (not a safe practice, especially in a severe Northern climate like Alaska, where insulation cracks so easily).

Now I go to WAL-MART or COSTCO and buy new lights- right AFTER Christmas, and put them away for next year.

Only one example of a product that is much more affordable with "free trade".

And that doesn't strike you as a porcine example of wastefulness (the opposite of conservatism BTW)?

Imagine a quality US manufactured set of LED based X-Mass lights that require an initial $20 investment but last 20 years.