You thought that SC lawmakers had already done everything they could possibly do to emphasize to the world that, if given the slightest excuse, they would secede all over again? Well, you were wrong.
These boys are creative, and they never miss a new way to celebrate the spirit of Nullification. This just in:
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) – South Carolina legislators are throwing a lifeline to traditional incandescent light bulbs as they try to trump federal energy standards.
The House on Thursday approved legislation with a 76-20 vote that would allow companies to manufacture the bulbs in South Carolina and sell them here.
The measure needs routine final approval next week before heading to the Senate.
Federal energy standards have manufacturers turning to compact fluorescent, halogen and LED bulbs. Manufacturers phase out traditional 100-watt incandescent bulbs next year.
Proponents say more efficient bulbs cost too much and they don’t like the light they provide.
The Incandescent Light Bulb Freedom Act allows manufacturers to make the traditional bulbs and stamp them as “Made in South Carolina.” They could only be sold in the Palmetto State.
Someone who doesn’t understand South Carolina — someone who thinks the sesquicentennial of secession is a commemoration of the way we were, rather than a celebration of who we ARE — might think that this is just a particularly moronic way of rejecting any kind of concern for the planet as “liberal,” and therefore beyond the pale.
But if you really do understand South Carolina, you realize that yes, it’s that, but it’s also a chance to relive the heady days of 1860, and cock a snook at the federal gummint. Especially that Obama.
So that’s, what? Three birds with one stone? Environmentalism. The Union. And Obama.
These guys aren’t dummies, no matter what you think. They are geniuses at what they do.
They’re going to keep trying until they provoke that Obama enough that he tries to resupply Fort Sumter. They’ll be ready for him, too.
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Well this explains so much, I was wondering why SCETV was re-running Ken Burn’s wonderful Civil War series. I’ve been watching it and admiring how well done it is and now I know it’s really about the “ligh” bulb.
And yet the end result is the right answer. Who said incandescent bulbs are wrong? Both sides are simply silly in this.
Asking us to make do with inferior light that costs more (plus has mercury) is not the way to encourage people to be more environmentally aware. What happened to encouraging recycling and facilitating this broader conservation?
There’s a lot – A LOT – that SC could do to improve our environmental record. But giving up light bulbs in the home vs in commercial settings?
But mercury is so cool. It’s shiny, and it rolls around in a ball that seems to defy gravity…
So if the President decides not to send down federal troops to close light-bulb factories, maybe we can have a new Prohibition amendment to the constitution. We can even call it the Bill of Lights.
I think this about summarizes the situation I see:
Some of you Democrats will notice that these recent embarrassments I cite are all the works of Republicans,…” ~D. Bradley Warthen
If everyone is thinking alike then somebody isn’t thinking. ~George S. Patton
Incandescent bulbs are not being outlawed. Regulations, primarily driven by the #1 energy user, California, are seeking ways to lessen the strain on the energy grid.
Remember the energy grid crisises of the last 10 – 15 years?
Some incandescent bulbs meet the new energy regulations. Many don’t. Incandescent bulbs, btw, had their competition knocked out by government regulation in the early 20th century. There were better bulbs back then, but some corporate interests used laws to shut them down.
I’m waiting for some legislator to try and move our great state away from the tyranny and big brother ism of auto catalytic converters and low emission fuel additives, etc.
It appears that the General Assembly is trying once again to prove Mark Twain right: “No man’s life or property are safe while the legislature is in session.”
South Carolina is always fighting the battles of the last century. Remember how painful it was to admit women to the Citadel decades after they took that sensible step at West Point. More recently the governor tried to block the receipt of stimulus money. Now it’s light bulbs.
The CFL bulbs are just an intermediate step. Soon we’ll have low cost lighting by way of the light emiting diode, LED, bulbs. They are currently far too expensive but in time their high quality light will end the tyrrany of the mercury laden CFLs.
I’g going to begin my light bulb hording soon; I’ll have to admit I’m a bit of a lunatic on this but I have been known to bring a couple of my own light bulbs when traveling. By the end of a long day, the last thing I want to see in a hotel room is more florescent lighting.
And of course I’m also into dimmers. I’m guessing I saved more electricity that way then I ever would converting to CFL’s.
These are the situations where it would seem so much easier to identify the major sources of electrical consumption and continue to work on increasing the efficiency of these demand sources. I’m sure residential interior light bulbs don’t account for 10% of the total household consumption.
The best new CFLs are excellent–but so many bad ones are on the market, they give them a bad name. Consumer Reports says the Energy Star certified ones are much better. I have some “daylight” CFLs from Verilux that many people have admired! CFLs come in several “shades”–I like the pure white tones, but they do come in warmer ones, too. Read the box or store display.
Unless you dim an incandescent to a fourth of the wattage, probably not saving more than a CFL.
and there are Energy star halogens, too. I love halogen light, but it was an energy hog before. Now, not so much.