Unfortunately, Harman's domestic policy seems as troubling a typical Democrat's foreign policy. She has introduced a bill that would ban the sale of traditional incandescent light bulbs. I make generous use of fluorescent blubs myself. Not really out of environmental concerns, but rather because it makes economic sense to do so. As Harmon points out on an entry on HuffPo:
Only 10% of the power used by today's incandescent bulbs is emitted as light. A full 90% is released as heat. The typical 60 watt bulb only lasts 750-1,000 hours. Most fluorescent bulbs can last 8 to 10 times longer.
You do the math, and it makes a lot more sense to use fluorescent bulbs. But I have absolutely no interest in the government dictating the kinds of light bulbs that light bulb producers can manufacture. If people want to buy inefficient light bulbs, they should have the freedom to do so. This is the United States not The Nanny State.
You let this kind of thing slide, and you run the risk of the government over stepping its bounds elsewhere.
Like maybe some day they'll start telling restaurants they can't use certain kinds of cooking oils. Oh wait.
At least it hasn't gotten to the point of the government taking away citizens' houses, right?
