Rod Livdahl's letter (July 15) condemning conservatives' attempts to give us a choice on what kind of light bulbs we can use illuminates how liberals deal with the idea of "choice." Incandescent, which has been in use for well over a hundred years, is considered a threat because it consumes too much energy. The gradual phase-out of these bulbs to the compact fluorescent (CFL) type is underway because of government mandates.
When a liberal sees something he doesn't like (incandescent bulbs), he wants to ban their use by everybody. If a conservative does not like something, he just doesn't buy it but leaves others the freedom to make their own choice.
My wife has headache and equilibrium problems with the illumination characteristics of CFLs. As a result, we have tried to stock up on incandescent bulbs so we will have a supply for some time to come. The toxic mercury content of CFLs which would normally outrage lefties is ignored. As for incandescent bulbs consuming more power, I'm paying my power bill so leave me alone.
The correct solution is to allow both CFLs and incandescent bulbs. Let the consumer choose. If CFLs really save a lot of money, most people will buy them. For others who have legitimate reasons for choosing incandescent, please leave us with that choice.
Give me conservative choice, not liberal mandated one-size-fits-all ultimatums.
Steve Ball, Gilbert
wdgnas posted at 4:46 am on Thu, Jul 21, 2011.
the mercury in the cfl's is very little compared to the mercury output of coal fired power plants. and i know that the phoenix metropolitan area gets most of its electricity from palo verde and the salt river corridor. there is however a coal fired plant in springerville. it is good to see the author is pro choice.
gc coyote posted at 5:03 am on Thu, Jul 21, 2011.
Steve,
Is that why conservatives are for freedom of choice on abortion?
Freedom to let gays serve in the military? Same sex marriage?
Conservatives are all about leaving others the freedom to make their own choices.
CooperG posted at 5:48 am on Thu, Jul 21, 2011.
While you're at it Steve, why don't you complain about that rotary dial analog telephone choice that was taken from you. Or the black and white TV choice that was taken from you. Or the coal-fired furnace choice that was taken from you. Or the 8086 computer processor choice that was taken from you.
This light bulb nonsense is exactly that, nonsense. This is nothing but a ridiculous political argument for the sake of argument.
It's called PROGRESS. Time and technology change, as much as you may hate it. Besides, don't lay this silly "I can waste money as much as I want" while complaining that government wastes money. Set an example and get with the times.
RationalHuman posted at 6:38 am on Thu, Jul 21, 2011.
"we have tried to stock up on incandescent bulbs so we will have a supply for some time to come"
LOL...I thought this was a sarcasm piece when I read this line...NO ONE is this stupid, are they??
Brand new incandescent bulbs (with lower power usage) are available at most retailers...and despite what Glenn "the sky is falling" Beck has told you, they're not going anywhere.
"My wife has headache and equilibrium problems with the illumination characteristics of CFLs"
Gosh, I thought it was liberals who whined about non-issues. LOL
"The correct solution is to allow both CFLs and incandescent bulbs."
It's not only the solution, it's the way things are now...so your article's point was.................................?
RationalHuman posted at 6:52 am on Thu, Jul 21, 2011.
And I never realized Steve Ball was pro-chpice and pro-gay marriage.
Because if he's not, his article title is just slimy slander.
Leon Ceniceros posted at 7:44 am on Thu, Jul 21, 2011.
WHAT HAPPENED TO ALL THE .."CIVIL DISCOURSE".....THAT THE...LIBERALS-PROGRESSIVES-SOCIALISTS-COMMUNISTS AND DEMOCRATS WERE ...WHINE-ING ABOUT.
NOTICE HOW THESE COMMENTORS DON'T TRY TO MAKE AN..."FACT-BASED REBUTTAL" TO THE CONSERVATIVE LETTER WRITERS BUT, INSTEAD CHOSE THE ...."LOWEST-COMMON DEMONINATOR"....AND USE....PERSONAL ATTACKS.
CSalafia posted at 10:06 am on Thu, Jul 21, 2011.
There is no plan to phase out incandescent bulbs. Period.
To claim so is to either:
1) Lie
2) Show ignorance as to what was contained in the Energy Independence and Security Act, signed by Bush in 2007.
Rich posted at 10:22 am on Thu, Jul 21, 2011.
I think everything would be a whole lot better if liberals, conservatives, and everyone else and their grandmother's dog would learn a simple little phrase and apply it often. "It's none of my business." As in: "It's none of my business if you, smoke, have an abortion, marry who you want to, wear a seatbelt, use an incandescent light bulb, mow your lawn, have a flat tire, light up a sparkler, or actually live your life as you want to live it. Apply simple little rules like, it isn't a crime unless its victim testifies. The government has made so much of our personal business and prerogatives their business that they are beyond broke just trying to afford to keep their noses in our business. They have built vast bureaucracies composed of nothing but offensive busybodies, accomplishing nothing and costing a fortune. Government needs to limited severely, and quickly because about 80% of what they do is really "none of their business."
antirino posted at 6:38 pm on Thu, Jul 21, 2011.
CooperG, you just made Mr. Ball’s point but I don’t think you realized it. He said the correct approach is to allow both kinds of bulbs and allow the consumer to chose. Items such as rotary dial phones, B&W TVs etc. were eliminated by market forces, not by government mandate, exactly what Mr. Ball proposes with incandescent bulbs vs. CFLs.
antirino posted at 6:45 pm on Thu, Jul 21, 2011.
The word “choice” is a loaded one when it comes to liberals. Perhaps Mr. Ball’s letter would have been better expressed if he had said that liberals want to take away our “freedoms” instead of our “choices”. But it is predictable that somebody on the left would bring up the abortion question. The simple answer to this is that conservatives value the freedom of the unborn child as much as the freedom of the mother. There is a huge difference between an inanimate light bulb and a living unborn child. One has God-given rights and the other does not. So don’t try to equate these two situations.
antirino posted at 7:04 pm on Thu, Jul 21, 2011.
RationalHuman you asked what the point of Mr. Ball’s letter was. It is pretty obvious to me. He was rebutting Rod Livdahl’s previous letter “Latest example of conservative disconnect” in which Mr. Livdahl advocates a “big government” one-size-fits-all mandated approach to light bulb purchase vs. allowing the consumer the freedom to pick the kind of bulb he wants to buy. Mr. Livdahl was blasting Michele Bachmann as not having “common sense” when she was advocating freedom for people who purchase light bulbs. But in a larger sense the difference in attitude between liberals and conservatives is “illuminated” by this debate.
onerebel posted at 7:40 pm on Thu, Jul 21, 2011.
Liberals sure hate it when you tell them the way it is, The statement , ( When a liberal sees something he doesn't like he wants to ban their use by everybody. If a conservative does not like something, he just doesn't buy it but leaves others the freedom to make their own choice.) hit the nail on the head. The abortion argument is simple if the baby could survive outside the womb it's a life. If it's OK to kill that life why not any other life, and it must be a mental illness to believe it's OK to kill an unborn child but not a convicted rapist and murderer ? The point being made is that Liberals are trying to mandate their wishes and ideas on EVERYONE. They don't want to coexist they want to assimilate us !
wdgnas posted at 4:36 am on Fri, Jul 22, 2011.
rich: Apply simple little rules like, it isn't a crime unless its victim testifies.
what if the victim can't testify? because they are DEAD? getting off the subject completely but...
RationalHuman posted at 3:22 pm on Fri, Jul 22, 2011.
"But it is predictable that somebody on the left would bring up the abortion question."
Who did that? Or are you accusing me of being "on the left"?
What IS it with you fearmongers? I criticize neo-conservative nonsense, suddenly I'm "on the left"...when I defend gays, your ilk accuses me of being gay...when I defend Jews, your ilk accuses of being Jewish. According to you I must be a leftist, gay Jew!
(Oh and I defend the rights of Blacks and women, so I must be black and female too)
"One has God-given rights"
Awww, your imaginary friend doesn't like light bulbs? LOL
RationalHuman posted at 3:25 pm on Fri, Jul 22, 2011.
Oh and Mr.Ball/antirino,
Why are you suddenly referring to yourself in the third person, as if you were someone else?
RationalHuman posted at 7:19 am on Sat, Jul 23, 2011.
Ah, I see...hoping no one would catch you being a dishonest weasel.
BUSTED
And I still can't find a department store that DOESN'T carry incandescent light bulbs.
Looks like the sky isn't falling after all. LOL
Mike1200 posted at 11:12 am on Sat, Jul 23, 2011.
From Rod Livdahl's letter
technological advancement that will save Americans approximately $6 billion a year by 2015 and should eliminate the need to build as many as 33 large power plants by the time the law is fully in effect by 2020.
Using the above logic I can see not to far down the road they will be mandating that we all drive the TOYota prius and smart cars to cut back on the use of those evil fossil fuels too.
antirino posted at 8:17 am on Sun, Jul 24, 2011.
Of course you can still purchase incandescent bulbs. The energy usage mandates which require 25 to 30 percent less energy usage than incandescent does not kick in until 2012, beginning with 100 watt bulbs and progressing down to 40 watt bulbs in 2014. Last time I checked it was still 2011. BTW: CooperG, I can stull purchase and use a rotary dial phone if I want to.
AmericanPatriot posted at 4:48 pm on Sun, Jul 24, 2011.
Liberals seek the nanny state. The nanny state is a prison.
k33j88 posted at 4:22 am on Mon, Jul 25, 2011.
Former President Reagon said: The 12 words you should fear the most are, "I am from the federal government and I am here to help". 'Aint that the truth!!!
RationalHuman posted at 6:49 am on Mon, Jul 25, 2011.
Steve Ball/antirino,
Please just stop posting, unless it is to apologize to your readers for being a dishonest weasel.
You already admitted that antirino and Mr. Ball are one and the same...yet in this article's comments you act as if your his biggest fan, instead of the actual person.
Engaging in slimy tactics like this brings into question your credibility.
The "Doomsday Lightbulb" absurdity brings into question your sanity.
antirino posted at 10:59 am on Wed, Aug 3, 2011.
RationalHuman, having lost the argument in the area of facts, it's now time to attack the messagner.