I think the extra care involved in recycling is worth what they save in the environment in the long run. Yes, there is a lot of hysteria over the small amount of mercury IF IT BREAKS, but the fact is, the use of incandescent bulbs emits much more mercury into the atmosphere.
Here is some additional information:
http://www.energystar.gov/ia/partners/pr...ercury.pdf
This is a free country, or at least it used to be. The point Ted was making was our government does not have any Constitutional power to put demands on its citizens of what light bulbs they need to buy.
We are losing all individual freedoms because a bunch of power-hungry politicians who think they know better than us, at the same time, they're ignoring the Constitution.
If you want to buy these light bulbs,. go for it. I also might decide to buy them, but if I don’t for what ever reason, it’s my choice. I should have the freedom to regulate my own home as I see fit. The governemnt has no right to take that Freedom away from me. That's was Ted's Poe's main point, imho.
Here’s another quote from Ronald Reagan
“Government exists to protect us from each other. Where government has gone beyond its limits is in deciding to protect us from ourselves.”
Leave my freedom alone.
PS....Why do I now believe you're about to bring up the Abortion Pro-choice issue that I and other conservatives are against giviing the choice to the mother? What about her Freedom? Hypocrite you're thinking???
Not at all...,not when there's a life that needs to be protected. “Government exists to protect us from each other". The governemnt needs to protect the baby from someone who wants to do it harm. Not hypocritical at all.
But, since you brought up this quote: "Government exists to protect us from each other", this is a good argument for supporting CFLs. In case you haven't noticed, we are entering into an era where energy is becoming a critical issue. Our over-consumption of energy, in relation to other countries, is coming back to bite us in the butt. The economy is hurting, all prices are increasing due to energy costs. Our high demand for energy is dictating the wars we fight, the economy, and ultimately, the type of light bulb we buy. Your 'freedom' to buy an incandescent bulb hurts everyone else, and your children, and grandchildren, and future generations to come. This is where the government steps in, to protect our energy supplies. Decreasing demand will lower energy costs. That benefits EVERYBODY.
And in addition, Because of this quote, "Government exists to protect us from each other", abortion should be kept legal to protect women from those that would dictate what they should do with their own bodies.
macolligas
But, since you brought up this quote: "Government exists to protect us from each other", this is a good argument for supporting CFLs. In case you haven't noticed, we are entering into an era where energy is becoming a critical issue. Our over-consumption of energy, in relation to other countries, is coming back to bite us in the butt. The economy is hurting, all prices are increasing due to energy costs. Our high demand for energy is dictating the wars we fight, the economy, and ultimately, the type of light bulb we buy. Your 'freedom' to buy an incandescent bulb hurts everyone else, and your children, and grandchildren, and future generations to come. This is where the government steps in, to protect our energy supplies. Decreasing demand will lower energy costs. That benefits EVERYBODY.
And in addition, Because of this quote, "Government exists to protect us from each other", abortion should be kept legal to protect women from those that would dictate what they should do with their own bodies.
Our energy issues are obfuscated by liberal pressure groups preventing our addressing the problem.
Environazis now stop us building nuclear power plants, drilling for oil and even mining for coal.
They want us to live in caves because man is a liability.
Government is not doing the job it should be doing.
We have the means, the technology and the ability to provide all the energy we need to get along.
Those 'energy saving' bulbs take more energy to make, are more pollutant in disposal and cost more. Seems to me we have yet another Goreism in the making.
They are only more pollutant in their disposal if you do not dispose of them properly. Overall, they are much less pollutant. While they take more energy to make, they overall energy expended when you compare an incandescent vs a CFL, the CFL wins hands down. http://thewatt.com/node/175
To get along... for now. What about future generations? Coal is not an unlimited supply. Oil is not an unlimited supply. We need to think beyond our immediate needs to make sure we have an energy plan that is effective beyond the next 20 years or so.
Also, the government isn't telling you that you HAVE to buy CFLs. Your rights aren't being trampled on. The government is simply saying you can't buy incandescents. There are other options. You could look into LED lighting. Also, the door is wide open for that good ol' American entrepreneurship to kick in to develop better technology and more energy effiecient lighting.
When all other arguments fail, I'll just have to fall back on this: "Buying lightbulbs isn't a right, it's a privilege". 