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The Spectacle Blog
The battle for light bulb freedom continues. The Democrats still believe that the American people are too stupid to choose their own light bulbs. The House GOP was able to delay enforcement of the new 100 watt ban for a year. At least we have a few more months before the Department of Energy sends its apparatchiks across the land to spy out Americans using the old incandescent bulbs!
It’s worth noting who in addition to the Democrats favors light bulb socialism. Big Business. As usual, the capitalists are the greatest enemies to capitalism because they really don’t believe in free markets.
Observed Investors’ Business Daily:
Earlier this month, Republicans suspended the law until October by denying funds for its implementation as part of a massive spending bill. For Democrats, this move was another sign of how out of touch the GOP is.
But look who else is complaining. As Politico reported, “big companies like General Electric, Philips and Osram Sylvania (are) fuming.” Allegedly these companies are mad because they invested lots of money getting ready for the new rules.
Fact is, they were pushing for the ban all along.
In 2007, Philips urged an incandescent ban as a way to force the market toward high-efficiency bulbs, complaining that without such laws, “purchase price and functional performance often take precedence over environmental concern.”
That same year, the National Electrical Manufacturers Association, which represents companies making 95% of bulbs sold in the U.S., told a Senate panel that a ban was needed “to further educate consumers on the benefits of energy-efficient products.”
There obviously is a lot wrong with the Occupy Wall Street movement. But the protestors have helped highlight the problem of the alliance between Big Business and Big Government. Many corporate behemoths long ago made their peace with Uncle Sam and now actively lobby the Feds (and states) to safeguard their market shares and guarantee their profits. Republicans should be pro economic liberty, not pro corporate welfare.
beebop2| 12.23.11 @ 6:29AM
Apparently you are going to provide NO OUTLET for those of incensed about the "payroll tax" deal.
So?
Here's my comment to Karl Rove, Bill Kristol and those morons at the WSJ:
We don't have to vote. We will stay home and let the chips fall where they may.
I hope that's pretty clear.
peterdub| 12.23.11 @ 7:35AM
Yes the whole history of the manufacturers and their relation to government legislation can be seen on http://ceolas.net/#li1ax
and onwards, with references, copies of communications etc
paul best| 12.24.11 @ 10:32AM
good information, thank you for this
martin j smith| 12.23.11 @ 7:45AM
The Republican Party leadershit has shown us exactly who they are. They are selling us out period.
I am really not sure who are I detest more Obama and the Socialists or the Republican Leaders who collude with the Socialists. This election process is a sell out and unless some one steps forward that makes ANY KIND OF SENSE i might forget that there is an election because it is not worth the bother. My decision awaits the behaviors of the republican Bull Shit Establishment
JimH| 12.23.11 @ 11:20AM
As much as they will sometimes complain, large companies will actually support and sometimes design these sort of regulations as they can much more readily deal with them than their smaller competition.
sjccoach| 12.23.11 @ 11:27AM
More proof that all of our politicians are crooks. They are bought and paid for by big business and big non profit groups.
Al Adab| 12.23.11 @ 11:32AM
Wasn't it a basic findamental of the Fascist structure that government picked the winners and losers in favored businesses?
Dixie Pixie| 12.23.11 @ 12:43PM
Looking around at all the lovely Christmas lights did anyone else notice not a one was a florescent light.
When the “Efficiency Rule” kicks in will every Christmas light be banned?
Is the heart and soul of Socialism the desire to shiver in the dark and cold and curse the light?
Al Adab| 12.23.11 @ 12:53PM
Hmmmm, good question Dixie. Perhaps The Left does indeed "hate the light".
Merry Christmas to you and yours.
Dixie Pixie| 12.23.11 @ 4:26PM
Merry Christmas Al, Margie, Mimi, Ken, Occam's Tool , Timothy, the ever mysterious VLady and all the rest including the resident [Ron Paul Firsters] Clint and Jack.
Merry Christmas one and all.
Oldefarte| 12.23.11 @ 3:59PM
You have to think this situation in terms of Solyndra, okay? Traditional light bulb manufacturing corporations cannot profitably manufacture/sell the new energy efficient light bulbs without governmental mandating same. The key word here is profitably. This current socialistic governmental administration in caving politically into the environmental wacko crowd for partisaned purposes obviously used government/community-organizing knee-capping tactics to PERSUADE private industry light bulb manufacturers to comply with their wishes concerning the more energy efficient light bulbs, whereupon those manufacturers told the knee-cappers that governmental promotion/cooperation was needed in order to guarantee a profitable outcome for these manufacturers. It's simply SOLYNDRA II or X, who knows??????
David W| 12.23.11 @ 7:27PM
Anytime that government and big business agree on something you can be guaranteed of two things:
- services or products from these business will be more expensive,
- our tax dollars will be wasted on something.
It doesn't matter who is in office apparently, dumocrat or RINO.
Oldefarte| 12.24.11 @ 2:12PM
I would argue that the Rinos waste [if that's how you wish to phrase it] our tax dollars on military/war matters, while the Dumocrats waste them on Solyndraish green energy, environmental wackoisms such as these non-essential light bulbs [and therein lies the difference]. If anyone can supply concrete examples of wholesale governmental waste projects such as the editorialized one here by Republican administrations [which in my lifetime has been pro-capitalism oriented, and not pro-socialism] , please educate me upon same!!!!!!!!
Bob| 12.23.11 @ 9:15PM
Doug Bandow is right. Sarah Palin is right. Michele Bachmann is right. Ron Paul is right. Ronald Reagan is right. Barry Goldwater is right. Margaret Thatcher is right. I could go on, but I think you get the point.
G| 12.25.11 @ 5:57PM
I don't understand why this article is entitled "Democrat Crony Capitalism" when in fact BOTH parties are equally guilty in this fascist collusion between Big Business and Big Government. To me, OWS and the Tea Party are two sides of the same populist coin. The only reason ALL of America is not revolting against this fascist cabal, is simply because they do not understand or know that it exists.