the new light bulbs cost less over time and last at least five years
'restricting' old light bulbs (with really old technology) makes a lot of sense for the governments own ability to function--its not like you have to deal with the power plant in a real way, whereas the government does. who would think that maybe, just maybe, the government wants to be 'eco-friendly' for reasons beyond agreeing with on party or another.

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The new light bulbs also contain dangerous levels of mercury, are more expensive initially, and don't work properly with dimmers or in adverse conditions (cold). Some also consider the quality of the light to be poor.

There are lots of other ways to reduce power consumption, such as restricting computer processing power or internet and television use. Should we do that too?

But I'm not here to argue about whether incandescents are better or not. I am pointing out that people can have perfectly reasonable objections to an outright ban.

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I have several dimmers with the new bulbs and haven't had any issues with them.

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so do some thermometers, they cost less over time (about 1-2 dollars more per bulb.. intially) and they do work properly with dimmers and in the cold. went a whole winter with them.

did i say not to reduce power usage?

i dont think they *should* ban the old ones, just wanted to displace your shit-talking of eco-friendly bulbs

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You are awesome.

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I'm glad you had luck with them, but there are many legitimate and reasonable issues people have with CFL's.

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i hate to tell you but those new light bulbs do not last five years nor do they put out as much light as an incandescent. argue with me all you want, but know better. the longest i've ever gotten one of the new bulbs to last is just over a year and a half. and sitting here in my living room now with four lamps on instead of the two i originally had in here because without the second pair, it's too dark to see in here. and that's just how it is.

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youre lying, or you bought some really really shitty lightbulbs in general

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i'm not lying. and i've had other people tell me the same thing - that the bulbs don't last more than a year and the light they give out is crap.

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and whether i'm lying or not, one single light bulb shouldn't cost $5.

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Why, exactly, shouldn't a single light bulb cost $5?

Incandescent light bulbs cost that much in many, many countries.

This is like when I hear people say "gas shouldn't cost $4 a gallon" and I'm like "Well in most of the world it has cost more than $4 a gallon for the past 15 years - it's only that it's been subsidized in the United States for so long you don't know what the real value of gasoline is."

I would think libertarians in particular would be ones to not say that something "shouldn't cost $xx". Isn't your entire premise that the market should set the rate?

The only reason that incandescent light bulbs cost less than $5 each in America - while they cost more in the rest of the world - is that GE and other manufacturers of light bulbs are allowed to pay nearly no taxes at all on their corporate income.

Your incandescent light bulbs cost less than $5 each essentially because of government subsidies - i.e. socialism.

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it's expensive. i had to do without something so i could buy a pack of the compact cfls (3 of them; they don't come in 4 packs) for my living room about a year ago. it was $15 for three bulbs. nobody should have to do without something just to get something else. it's ridiculous.

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"nobody should have to do without something just to get something else."

Then you'll love Communism.

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marxism (unless you were being sarcastic)

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Hyperbole: It's Not Just For Bart_Calendar Anymore!

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"nobody should have to do without something just to get something else. it's ridiculous."

This was Karl Marx's basic point.

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indeed it was.

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You should probably shop around for your bulbs they're about $3 a pop at Target. Also, I have had CFLs burn out after about 6 mos...but I also bought at a flea market for $2 for a 3 pack. Maybe your bulb seller is simply disreputable.

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