The economy is in the tank. Nationally the the jobless rate is approaching 10%, and closer to home the unemployment rate for May in Kokomo jumped to 18.8 percent, up 11.7 percentage points from a year ago. The Elkhart-Goshen unemployment rate rose to 17.5 percent. That’s up 11.4 percentage points from last year.
As we continue to pull-out early from Iraq, violence is on the upswing. All the while Obama is continuing his romance with fascist dictators like Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and Syria’s Bashar al-Assad to the point of even sending Ambassadors to each country.
But the big news from the White House – the Obamassiah is pounding his chest over new efficiency standards he’s going to cram down our throats on light bulbs. He claims that between 2012 and 2042 it will save us up to $4 billion annually and that’s enough to power every U.S. home for 10 months.
Bullshit.
Maine governor John Baldacci signed a first-in-the-nation law requiring manufacturers of compact fluorescent light bulbs containing toxic mercury to share in the cost of proper disposal.
Legislative Directive 973 goes into effect September 12 and requires manufacturers to pay for the collection and recycling of bulbs, rather than taxpayers. Manufacturers must submit recycling plans by 2010 and begin collection by 2011.
California, Vermont and Massachusetts all have similar bills pending and are expected to follow Maine’s lead.
Want to guess who’s really going to pay for this? You, because the manufacturers will pass along the cost to the consumer.
And if you break one, be careful who you call.
WASHINGTON – Brandy Bridges heard the claims of government officials, environmentalists and retailers like Wal-Mart all pushing the idea of replacing incandescent light bulbs with energy-saving and money-saving compact fluorescent lamps.
So, last month, the Prospect, Maine, resident went out and bought two dozen CFLs and began installing them in her home. One broke. A month later, her daughter’s bedroom remains sealed off with plastic like the site of a hazardous materials accident, while Bridges works on a way to pay off a $2,000 estimate by a company specializing in environmentally sound cleanups of the mercury inside the bulb. Complete story is [here].
It’s no wonder Obama’s approval ratings keep dropping.
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“He claims that between 2012 and 2042 it will save us up to $4 billion annually and that’s enough to power every U.S. home for 10 months.”
That statement is very misleading. When I read it, because it referenced the amount saved per year, I assumed he was saying it would power all the homes for ten months of each year.
However, after doing the calcualtions I realize that he is actually saying it will power ten months over the entire duration of the thirty year span he referenced. That means each houshould will save a little less than 3% off their electric bill.
Perhaps after all the hidden costs (such as that referenced above) are considered this will still be a net positive, but certainly nothing worth bragging over.
Brandy Bridges lives in Maine, the state represented by the two “turncoat” Republican Senators, Snowe & Collins, who are a disgrace to conservative Republicans.
Why does it not suprise me that Brandy got no help from these two senators – by their votes on the fiscal programs of the Obama administration, they exhibited their total disregard for those that they represent in their state!
I’m not sure who’s running the DEP in Maine but they are obviously idiots. One does not need a special environmental cleanup crew for a broken CFL…
…Of course it’s bullshit…ALL of it.
And even “if” WE here in America DID save all that much money (which is one of the best falsehoods I’ve heard in some time), OTHER nations like CHINA and INDIA will no doubt DOUBLE their emissions, making OUR “savings” relatively null & void.
What a colossal load of crap!
‘Ya gotta watch BOTH HANDS of these “snake-oil salesmen” (politicians).
I foresee a huge new market in glass globes and spools of coiled tungsten wire. The Ronco home bulb-maker is not far away.
How about doing an “end-around” them ALL, and maybe go with….(wait for it)….LEDs???
…cooler, greener, longer-lasting, probably cheaper (now), and NO hazmat guys taping off the bedrooms when it breaks.
(whatta novel idea, Bob)
I just wish Billy Mays were still alive to SELL that idea!
I’ll figure out a way around this just like the ten flushes I now do during a dump into my low-flow toilet.
John,
I have two older toilets, they’re kind of a light powder blue large tank commodes if you’re interested. I was going to put them on e-Bay. My main shitter is still a large tank older model and I have no plans on getting rid of it.
AWB
Thanks for the offer, but, I enjoy the flushing. Or, at least the idea that I am defeating the whole purpose of the damn things.
of course Obama is jubliant the prices are going up and he thinks the companies will absorb that. He just hasn’t figured out yet that the price increase is passed on to the consumer. It’s that whole trickle down economics he poo poo’d before. I’m lovin the change………………………..