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Dim Bulbs in Congress
Philips, GE, and Sylvania all are ready to market incandescent bulbs that meet higher efficiency standards, while saving money for consumers -- but don't tell tea-partying lawmakers.
Aug 23, 2011
Our problem in Washington is this: we have too many 5-watt bulbs sitting in 100-watt sockets.
Any doubt about this was erased in July when House tea partiers joined old-school right-wing ranters to pass a light bulb bill. This was the culmination of a loopy crusade by the billionaire Koch brothers to stop the spread of energy-efficient light bulbs.
Say what? Yes, Koch front groups drummed up a non-issue by howling that Big Government is "telling us what kind of light bulbs we can buy."
Sure enough, an assortment of Koch-headed Congress critters joined the silly circus by trying to undo the rather useful government effort to stimulate production of better bulbs. They rallied round Thomas Edison's old 100-watt energy gulper, claiming that nanny-state Democrats had banned Edison's marvel, requiring that incandescent bulbs be replaced by the cold light of fluorescent bulbs.
This whole crusade is hogwash. There was never a proposed ban on incandescent bulbs -- just a new standard for all bulbs to consume less energy. And this standard was not set by Democrats, but by a Republican-sponsored law signed in 2007 by George W. Bush. Also, the descendants of Edison say that he would support such an advance: "The technology changes," said Robert Wheeler, the inventor's great-nephew. "Embrace it."
And guess who was behind the passage of the new energy efficiency mandate: light bulb makers. "Everyone supported it," says a top Philips executive, adding that the law produced a major surge in innovation by the industry. Only four years after the law passed, Philips, General Electric, and Sylvania all are ready to market incandescent bulbs that meet the higher efficiency standards, while saving money for consumers.
Did I mention that the Koch brothers are in the dirty energy business and profit when you have to use more of it to light your house?
We are at a crossroads
This country and this world are at a monumental crossroads. US voters have an opportunity to beat back the forces of fascism and confront the billionaires who are rigging the economy, our media system, and our democracy, making it increasingly impossible for ordinary people to get by. We’re not just talking about the election. We’re talking about what must be done once these fascist elements are vanquished from power. We need a bolder set of solutions than what either major party has so far been willing to offer and a working-class movement ready to fight like hell for it. Trump didn't emerge from nowhere. The conditions that fueled MAGA authoritarianism were created by decades of radical neoliberal economic policies and a corrupt political system dominated by corporate interests. They slashed taxes on the super-rich, promising that the benefits would trickle down. They said giveaways to the corporate titans would make life more affordable for the rest of us. It was all bullshit. And when a bitter, betrayed populace searches for someone to blame, right-wing demagogues have little trouble finding scapegoats. People know when they're being lied to, but you won't hear any of this from the corporate media. Only independent journalism—powered and funded by people who believe in building a better world—can deliver truly trustworthy daily news. If you share our vision, please contribute whatever you can to sustain our work. |
This column was distributed by OtherWords.
Jim Hightower
Jim Hightower is a national radio commentator, writer, public speaker, and author of the books "Swim Against The Current: Even A Dead Fish Can Go With The Flow" (2008) and "There's Nothing in the Middle of the Road But Yellow Stripes and Dead Armadillos: A Work of Political Subversion" (1998). Hightower has spent three decades battling the Powers That Be on behalf of the Powers That Ought To Be - consumers, working families, environmentalists, small businesses, and just-plain-folks.
Our problem in Washington is this: we have too many 5-watt bulbs sitting in 100-watt sockets.
Any doubt about this was erased in July when House tea partiers joined old-school right-wing ranters to pass a light bulb bill. This was the culmination of a loopy crusade by the billionaire Koch brothers to stop the spread of energy-efficient light bulbs.
Say what? Yes, Koch front groups drummed up a non-issue by howling that Big Government is "telling us what kind of light bulbs we can buy."
Sure enough, an assortment of Koch-headed Congress critters joined the silly circus by trying to undo the rather useful government effort to stimulate production of better bulbs. They rallied round Thomas Edison's old 100-watt energy gulper, claiming that nanny-state Democrats had banned Edison's marvel, requiring that incandescent bulbs be replaced by the cold light of fluorescent bulbs.
This whole crusade is hogwash. There was never a proposed ban on incandescent bulbs -- just a new standard for all bulbs to consume less energy. And this standard was not set by Democrats, but by a Republican-sponsored law signed in 2007 by George W. Bush. Also, the descendants of Edison say that he would support such an advance: "The technology changes," said Robert Wheeler, the inventor's great-nephew. "Embrace it."
And guess who was behind the passage of the new energy efficiency mandate: light bulb makers. "Everyone supported it," says a top Philips executive, adding that the law produced a major surge in innovation by the industry. Only four years after the law passed, Philips, General Electric, and Sylvania all are ready to market incandescent bulbs that meet the higher efficiency standards, while saving money for consumers.
Did I mention that the Koch brothers are in the dirty energy business and profit when you have to use more of it to light your house?
Jim Hightower
Jim Hightower is a national radio commentator, writer, public speaker, and author of the books "Swim Against The Current: Even A Dead Fish Can Go With The Flow" (2008) and "There's Nothing in the Middle of the Road But Yellow Stripes and Dead Armadillos: A Work of Political Subversion" (1998). Hightower has spent three decades battling the Powers That Be on behalf of the Powers That Ought To Be - consumers, working families, environmentalists, small businesses, and just-plain-folks.
Our problem in Washington is this: we have too many 5-watt bulbs sitting in 100-watt sockets.
Any doubt about this was erased in July when House tea partiers joined old-school right-wing ranters to pass a light bulb bill. This was the culmination of a loopy crusade by the billionaire Koch brothers to stop the spread of energy-efficient light bulbs.
Say what? Yes, Koch front groups drummed up a non-issue by howling that Big Government is "telling us what kind of light bulbs we can buy."
Sure enough, an assortment of Koch-headed Congress critters joined the silly circus by trying to undo the rather useful government effort to stimulate production of better bulbs. They rallied round Thomas Edison's old 100-watt energy gulper, claiming that nanny-state Democrats had banned Edison's marvel, requiring that incandescent bulbs be replaced by the cold light of fluorescent bulbs.
This whole crusade is hogwash. There was never a proposed ban on incandescent bulbs -- just a new standard for all bulbs to consume less energy. And this standard was not set by Democrats, but by a Republican-sponsored law signed in 2007 by George W. Bush. Also, the descendants of Edison say that he would support such an advance: "The technology changes," said Robert Wheeler, the inventor's great-nephew. "Embrace it."
And guess who was behind the passage of the new energy efficiency mandate: light bulb makers. "Everyone supported it," says a top Philips executive, adding that the law produced a major surge in innovation by the industry. Only four years after the law passed, Philips, General Electric, and Sylvania all are ready to market incandescent bulbs that meet the higher efficiency standards, while saving money for consumers.
Did I mention that the Koch brothers are in the dirty energy business and profit when you have to use more of it to light your house?
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