Out of Pod Experience

Like the classic incandescent 100W bulb? Don't like fluorescents? Well, Obama says 'too bad for you'.

Pussified Democrats passed a US ban in 2007, in order to please their eco-freak masters who claim they 'waste energy'.
(never mind that the 'wasted energy' merely heats your home in the end)

Republicans have attempted to reverse it, however Obama and Senate Democrats have obstructed them.

Which means, unfortunately, that ban takes effect today, January 1, 2012. Manufacture and import into the US are now illegal.

Once current stocks are depleted, you either get them from Mexico or the black market.

Of course, if we are lucky, the ban will be reversed when Republicans retake the Senate and the White House from the fascist shitheads currently in charge.

But until then, get your cheap 'soft whites' before the shelves are empty.

Next ban? 75W next on the block. Jan 1, 2013.

What? Are they really banning lightbulbs? Some serious stupidity going on in the US the last few years. I know they banned them awhile ago in Scandinavia, but figured they had more sense in the USA. But I suppose if they vote in idiots, idiotic policies like this one are what they get.

Incandescent light bulbs? How quaint.


Been banned here in Sweden for a couple of years, and I say good riddance.

I bought a bunch of cheap CFLs from IKEA when I moved to this flat about six years ago and I haven't had to change a single one. They fit in every fixture I've seen and the colour of the light is perfectly fine as well, with or without a yellow lampshade.

I honestly don't see why people get so worked up about this...

So you're mad because you now have to buy lightbulbs that use less energy, last longer, and produce just as much light?

They even have energy efficient bulbs that give the same glow as incandescent light now.

Are you... Are you retar.ded? Or just looking for something to complain about since there's a black president in office? Because I seriously can't think of another reason for you to ***** about something so petty.

Just to be the misunderstood scientist in the room. Did you know that CFL lights contain mercury, not in great amounts but normal bulb contain zero. It should also be noted that CFLs are coated on the inside with phosphorus, where incandescence are simply an acid etch glass with no remnant acid.

So if you break a bulb, clean it up right away, open all the windows and doors and turn every fan on in the house. Second, tell no one that you broke a bulb, third, hide it in the garbage can so the garbage man cant see the broken bulb. They are technically considered hasmat and should not be in the regular garbage.

As to them being greener for the environment, in a landfill the mercury is released and the phosphorus also is water soluble and gets into the water supply. They are not more energy efficient in some cases, the bulb must be turned on for at least 15 minutes at a time to beat a incandescent. Recent research has shown that if the bulb is being turned on and off frequently like say a bathroom light, then it halves the useful lifetime of the bulb.

Dont mind me, I live in CA and we have it.

Anyone reminded of MTBE? Put it in gas for less CO2 emissions, few years later its contaminating well water.

The whole issue makes me /facepalm.

Light bulbs were a dirty wasteful tech to begin with and they're still dirty and wasteful. The idea behind the legislation seems ahead by a few steps, by adding time as a factor. Yes one new light bulb is more nasty than one old one, but in theory they should last much longer. In theory...

2007? President Bush? An evenly split Senate? A meager 31 Democrat advantage in Congress? Are you telling me that Bush couldn't veto it? Because Congress sure as heck didn't have the numbers to override a presidential veto.

Oh wait, a *lot* of Republicans voted for it. The Senate vote was 86 - 8 and the House vote was 314 to 100. Sounds to me like the majority of Republicans and Democrats agreed to ban the 100 watt bulbs via the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. In fact if Bush had tried to veto it, the House, with Republican votes, could have easily overriden his veto.

tl;dr - The bill passed with heavy Republican support. Bush didn't veto it. Blaming Obama/Democrats is just stupid.


< tinfoil >
Did it ever occur to you that the GOP deliberately let the new energy standards bill pass just so they can have something populist to blame on Obama and distract you from the country's real problems? Or maybe the GOP just thinks you're stupid and that you'll believe any old accusation against Obama, trusting that you're too lazy and/or blinded by Obama hate to check the facts?
< /tinfoil >

No, George W. Bush signed a MUCH larger bill that included the 'light bulb ban'. He had resisted these kinds of laws in the past (ie CAFE standards for SUV/light trucks) but didn't have the heart to 'go to the mat' with Democrats over it.

Since 2010, however - Republicans have tried to specifically overturn this ban- its clearly Democrats (not Republicans) that are preventing it, as the measure passed easily in the House once the Tea Party Republicans emerged as a political force.

And either way, hardly agree with everything Bush has done. Doesn't change the fact that this ban is stupid, and Obama is even worse on the issue.

Hope that cleared things up for you.

Now, explain to me how why an 'obsolete' product continues to dominate the marketplace? If CFLs and LEDs were such great choices, why aren't people buying them? In fact, the marketplace strongly suggests that consumers are actually REJECTING them, if given a choice.

In terms of volume, CFLs and LEDs never accounted for more than a tiny fraction of all bulb sales, despite aggressive financial incentives (tax subsidies) and promotion by both government and manufacturers.

As recently as July 2011, sales of CFLs were DOWN 16% and incandescent were actually UP 6.5%.

http://www.mrbeams.com/blog/314-cfl-sales-in-big-decline-incandescent-bulbs-gain-market-share


Got that? Market share of incandescent lighting is actually increasing, in the US, as recently as 2011.

How can that be??
Are consumers simply irrational, buying an 'inferior product' out of sheer force of habit?
Is is Evil GE corporate brainwashing?

No, and no.

Correct answer: The classic Type-A bulb is not obsolete. It provides a superior product at a far cheaper cost. Burns more electricity, but it is a price that most households are obviously willing to pay.

The correct, freedom-loving (and non-fascist) way to proceed? Remove the authoritarian Democrat obstructionists, remove Obama, repeal the ban. When LED technology progresses to the point that it clearly is the better product, Edison's Type A will fade away. The beauty of this solution? Dinosaurs like me will still be able to find and use them as a niche product, while all the eco hippies can have whatever high-tech light bulb they choose. We both win.

Success in the marketplace is the only measure of success that matters. History is full of 'superior products' that failed to catch on. Technicalities are meaningless if you can't convince people to freely purchase it. Don't you know that money talks, bullshit walks? But I'll humor you.

A) Shorter 'expected' lifespan, but FAR cheaper cost up front.
If you prematurely break an incandescent, you replace it for 35 cents. CFLs cost 10 - 30x as much.

B) electricity is relatively cheap, plus 'wasted' energy isn't wasted. It is converted to heat, which is generally useful indoors unless you are a penguin.

C) Fire hazard? Talk about reaching. Especially when you consider the mercury disposal hazards associated with CFLs.

And you haven't addressed my central point....if CFLs and LEDs are so terrific, why aren't they selling?
Millions of people buy lightbulbs in the United States every month. And they are overwhelmingly buying incandescent light bulbs....in increasing numbers. CFL marketshare has actually fallen in recent years. Sounds to me like people are trying the new bulbs, not liking them, and switching back. Sure sign of a *superior* product.

Why are CFLs and LEDs inferior? Simple. Individuals weigh the costs and benefits of each type of bulb, and decide for themselves that 'traditional' bulbs are the best deal....despite government green subsidies and manufacturer advertising campaigns.

Here's the thing though - if YOU weigh the pros and cons, and find CFL or LEDs to be the cat's pajamas, GREAT! Buy em up. Hand em out as Christmas presents. Leave them in children's Easter Baskets. Tell your neighbors. I'm perfectly OK with that.

Why do you feel the need to force me (and the vast majority of average consumers) to conform to YOUR choice? What makes you so brilliant?

When I consider LED bulbs to be the correct choice for my home, Ill switch. Why are you so scared of allowing others that liberty?

Imprisoned? Is that all?

Obama has already ordered American citizens KILLED, without a trial, due process, or any judicial oversight whatsoever.
Ever heard of Anwar-al-Awlaki? Not shedding tears over the bombmaking ****....but if you've ever joined the Michigan Militia or attended any Tea Party rallies.....well, just saying it might behoove you to keep one eye skyward.

Oh, but, sorry. Lightbulbs (and future involuntary lack thereof) was the topic of this thread. You are free to start your own if you wish.