I note with disgust that the Federal Government has seized, without widespread protests, the authority to ban certain consumer goods. It is possible to be arrested for smuggling in an illegal toilet, for instance.
Think about that. What was your reaction when you first heard about it? Or are you just hearing about it now, and running to check Google or something to make sure I'm telling the truth? (Please do that, BTW. Never take my word for anything. I could be mistaken; I could be outright lying.)
As for me, I was quite angry; however, I decided that was not Bunker Hill for me...I was not willing to die on that hill...at least, not alone.
When the Edison light bulbs came under the disapproving glance or the Nanny State, it angered me again, or still, or more or something. But the nation acquiesced, and again, that was not my Bunker Hill.
So, as the 100W bulbs have disappeared from store shelves, soon to be followed by 60W and 40W bulbs, we have choices.
We can either make this our Bunker Hill, or we can deal with the situation as we find it with the options available.
*****
In 2004, my cousin and I moved into an apartment together. Nice place; two bedrooms, 1.75 baths (I took the smaller room with the attached .75 bath),
biiiig living/dining area, swimming pool nearby, etc. I had heard about CFLs and equipped all my light fixtures, and the one over the dining table, with them.
I had three reasons.
1. They use much less electricity per lumen. I was able to use 100W equivalents for less than half the energy of 60W Edison bulbs. This had in immediate effect on the electric bill.
2. They were available in "daylight spectrum", which I prefer. My bedroom at night with the light on was lit as though I had huge windows open on a sunny day. Edison bulbs, even the blue-tinted "reveal" bulbs, produce a light which I ungraciously call "pee-yellow". (I currently have Edison bulbs in my fridge, range hood, and a small decorative lamp in the guest room. The pee-yellowness of them is plainly seen in contrast with the rest of the lights.)
3. They were purported to be longer-lasting than Edison bulbs. This is the only point on which thy have disappointed me.
I was aware of the risks of breakage. By God's grace and my carpeted floors, I have never had one break.
A couple of months ago, I was in my local Homo Despot (don't judge me! I had good reasons!) and saw a display of LED daylight spectrum 60W equivalent bulbs for under $10 each. I immediately bought several. So far four of them are in use.
1. The electricity use is similar.
2. The light color (temperature?) is similar. Two of them, and two CFLs, are installed in the two fixtures in my kitchen, and the light appears uniform.
3. LEDs are known to me to last a very long time. I have various LED items which have been nearly constantly on for decades. My alarm clock is old enough to buy a beer, and has been off only for power outages and household moves. While some of them turn on and off with the passage of time, the colon has been on all the time the clock has been plugged in, and shows no dimming.
As for breakage, I'm pretty sure the outside bulb shaped casing is made of plastic. I'm not worried about playing catch with a toddler on a concrete patio with one of these. I have decided to replace failed CFLs with these LEDs as they occur.
*****
If the State were to be stripped of (or voluntarily surrender -- yeah right
) the power to regulate toilets or light bulbs or AR mags or whatever else, I don't think I'd go back to Edison bulbs. The daylight-spectrum LEDs have too much going for them.
I just want We the People to be able to choose our light bulbs based on our individual Pursuits of Happiness. And the right to keep and bear arms. And stuff.
