A recent column by Phyllis Schlafly highlights the Conservative fixation with (out of all of the real problems in the country) lightbulbs.
It seems there are some really important “freedom of choice” issues (oh the irony) regarding light bulbs that many Americans may not be aware of; I’m certainly not – but then I waste my time worrying about things like the deficit and unemployment, call me crazy!
But I’ll take a break from serious issues for a moment, what the hell.
Evidently Schlafly feels the ability to repeal the “law that banishes the Edison light bulb” is a litmus test for the Republican controlled House. The law at issue is the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. That’s 2007. One more time – that’s 2007.
Not only was this law’s bulb provision written by a Republican, namely House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair at the time, Fred Upton (R-MI), it was supported in the vote by 49.7% of House Republicans and signed into law by George W. Bush.
In a press release Upton said,
"This common sense, bipartisan approach partners with American industry to save energy as well as help foster the creation of new domestic manufacturing jobs. By upgrading to more efficient light bulbs, we will help preserv“e energy resources and reduce harmful emission [sic], all the while saving American families billions of dollars in their electric bills — and the benefits will be as easy as a flip of the switch."
Of course when Republicans regained the House in 2010, Upton’s own party turned on him as they’re known to do when the real “brains” behind the party, Limbaugh and Beck, call them names like “nanny” and “socialist”; it tends to send them crying to their offices. So guess who went back to the party with his tail between his legs and promised he'd work to undo his own legislation? Yup.
Needless to say, in Schlafly’s article the Republican involvement in creating the law is minimized by attempting to shift the “blame” for its’ current implementation to Obama, surprise! But the Conservative prerequisite of skewing the facts is something Schlafly has always excelled at.
Truth is, “the Edison light bulb” HAS NOT BEEN BANNED. It is simply required to be manufactured to be more efficient which, lo and behold, companies have been trying to do since at least the 1920s.
According to Schlafly (with no citation of course), “the majority of Americans” are “in favor of abolishing that obnoxious law”. Translation: Republicans don’t like it.
The fact is, a USA Today/Gallup poll finds that:
"More than 70% of Americans purchased an LED or compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulb in the past few years
84% of those who made the switch were satisfied or very satisfied with the new bulb.
Walmart and Sam’s Club have sold more than 350 million CFL bulbs
61 percent of Americans say the 2007 law is good, while just 31 percent say it’s bad."
(as I said, Republicans don’t like it)
Now let’s address the mercury issue. Yes, there is a handling procedure for the clean up of mercury if you should break a bulb, just like there is for a broken mercury thermometer. But while fear mongering is a tried and true conservative technique used to stir up their base, in this instance there may be some reason for concern. The internet is rife with stories of conservative mental pygmies who actually are unable to screw in a light bulb. For the rest of us, here are some actual facts* about the mercury in CFLs:
Most "CFLs on the market… generally contain approximately 5 mg, roughly the equivalent of the tip of a ballpoint pen. By comparison, older home thermometers contain 500 milligrams of mercury and many manual thermostats contain up to 3000 milligrams. It would take between 100 and 665 CFLs to equal those amounts."
Here are a few other items containing mercury:
Antiques, batteries, dental amalga, necklaces, paint, skin creams, switches and relays, and Thimerosal in vaccines
Lord, it’s a wonder we’re not all dead by now!
But wait, mercury occurs naturally in the environment and according to the Teapublicans’ most eminent scientist, Michele Bachmann, anything that occurs naturally in the environment (like CO2) can’t possibly be dangerous, so there’s really no need for Schlafly to worry her perfectly coiffed little head about it.
As for her uncharacteristic compassion for G.E.’s laid off Union workers (approximately 200 at the closing of the last U.S. bulb factory), these layoffs are not due to CFLs or China’s cheap labor. The fact is, G.E. made a bad business decision.
A few more annoying little fact thingies:
Edward Hammer, an engineer at G.E., invented the spiral CFL bulb in 1976. G.E. did not want to invest the estimated 25 million it would cost for the new factories, and chose not to manufacture the bulbs. Other companies did begin working with the design, including Chinese manufacturers, whose bulbs hit the market in 1995.
That still doesn’t mean we’re “forced to buy Chinese made bulbs”. A company called Lights of America has been assembling and distributing these bulbs in America since 1997.
In addition,
"the lighting industry strongly supports the new standards.
The industry says they will help the economy, not hurt it. They're closing old production lines and improving technologies, so state laws and appropriations bill may not have much impact on keeping the old bulbs around.”
"This cynical move breaks faith with U.S.-based manufacturers who worked with Congress and President George W. Bush in 2007 to write the law. Since then, manufacturers have researched, re-tooled and developed new, energy-saving bulbs to meet the new standards, which are expected to save the average U.S. family about $100 and the nation as much as $12 billion each year"
So making the effort to buy the American CFLs and energy efficient bulbs will actually help get some of our displaced workers back to work. Maybe that's the result Republicans are really afraid of.
And finally:
Kool-aiders all over the internet are claiming that CFLs will cost as much as 50.00 each. (God these knuckleheads wear me out) Where the sane people dwell though, a 23 watt CFL (light output of a 100 watt bulb) can be purchased for as little as $2.79.
Now, I can sympathize with Mrs. Schlafly’s frustration. She’s been forced to give up candle light, then gas light, her coal fireplace and Model T, all in the name of progress. Not to worry – with her party’s environmental record she may have them all back real soon.
Just a thought folks – as we’re switching to CFLs why don’t we all take our unused “Edison light bulbs” as she calls them, box them up (with lots of bubble wrap) and ship them to Phyllis and get everyone we know to do the same thing.
Phyllis Schlafly c/o Eagle Forum
7800 Bonhomme Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63105
And ladies, toss one of your Grandma's aprons into the box too and add a little card that says “These are for you Phyllis, we don’t need them anymore.”
*For those who listen to too much Fox News -
The definition of fact according to Merriam-Webster:
the quality of being actual : actuality