We all know how Republicans and conservatives in many states and in Congress seem determined to oppose use of energy saving light bulbs because — I still haven’t figured out their rationale. I guess they view saving money and reducing our dependence on fossil fuels as part of Obama’s fascist-socialist agenda to destroy the country, and deny us fundamental freedoms to waste precious resources. Or something.
But now there comes news that a new light bulb based on LED technology could last up to 20 years, and the energy savings would be (as a local car dealer says all the time in his TV ads) Huuuuuuuge!!!!
Light bulbs that are said to last for more than two decades while consuming very little energy may go on sale later this year.
US firm General Electric, Dutch company Philips and UK-based Sylvania all showcased their products at the Light Fair industry conference in Las Vegas.
The bulbs may initially cost as much as $60 but I think this would be a good reason to give consumers who replace their old bulbs with these massively energy efficient bulbs a tax credit, and maybe even a program to subsidize the cost for people at or near the poverty line. After all, the more we reduce our energy consumption the better for our economy as a whole. Saving energy reduces the cost of manufacturing here in the USA, thus making us more competitive and saving, or even creating, jobs in our dwindling manufacturing sector. It seems anything we can do to encourage individuals and businesses to buy these products when they come on the market later this year.
But something tells me that a reasonable idea like that would be opposed by the current Republican members of the House and Senate, particularly the Tea Party faction, who seem opposed to energy conservation for no other reason than Democrats, whether conservative, moderate or liberal, favor it. After all, the Republicans in Congress pulled an inane stunt before to defund federal regulations requiring higher energy savings standards for bulbs back in December, 2011, against the opposition of the major manufacturers and corporations whom the Republicans generally obey without question:
WASHINGTON — Republicans in Congress are flipping the dimmer switch on a law that sets new energy-savings standards for light bulbs.
They’ve reached a deal to delay until October enforcement of standards that some fear will bring about the end of old-style 100-watt bulbs. GOP lawmakers say they’re trying to head off more government interference in people’s lives. […]
A group representing light bulb manufacturers spoke out against the delay, which applies only to 100-watt bulbs. Tighter standards for 75-watt bulbs take effect in 2013, and lower wattage bulbs must be more efficient by 2014.
“American manufacturers have invested millions of dollars in energy-efficient light bulbs,” said Joseph Higbee, a spokesman for the National Electric Manufacturers Association, which represents 95 percent U.S. light bulb makers.
I guess wasting energy, which favors the large energy companies, particularly Big Oil, held more sway with the Tea Party Republicans (and you have to wonder if there is any other kind left these days) than the light bulb industry who actually make products and create jobs here in America. Funny how that works.
So I don”t expect Flipping Mitt Romney (the man who single-handedly saved the auto industry even while he opposed bailing it out with federal loans in 2008) and the rest of the gang to get on board with the proposals I listed above (or similar ones) to encourage usage of these new bulbs when they hit the market. Thus, only people with enough money (and common sense) will buy them. You know, people who make enough each week to buy $60 light bulbs rather than have to choose between paying for food or energy saving bulbs.
But hey, anything to preserve our freedom of choice, at least when it comes to light bulbs, that is, not women’s bodies.