Poison

I am coming late to the party, I know, but I'm just wondering why exactly the government thinks it a good idea to FORCE the FREE citizens of the United States to buy poisonous lightbulbs. So many things are wrong with this, and maybe I'm just being picky, but really it is more like the last straw. Why in the world would the government feel it is it's provence to dictate what kind of lightbulbs we use? Not only that, but did you know that those same lightbulbs are poisonous if they break? Hazardous waste in fact. They contain mercury at about four times the level of that found in a can of tuna, which California (a very liberal state I know) has forced producers to label with warnings about containing mercury and the danger it poses to your health. Again, why is it such a great idea to put these in our homes where our children play? I'm conviced that if the commercials and information about these bulbs was more unbiased people would be outraged that our government is exposing us to toxic chemicals. Check out this story by NPR and you tell me if it is balanced: www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyid=7431198.

For instance, did you know that many states require you to dispose of CFL bulbs at a hazardous waste facility? You cannot just throw them into your trashcan. How many people know that and know where to dispose of them? Does this mean that we are contaminating our soils? Did you know that if they break you have to clear the room and maybe even the house for at least 15 minutes? How exactly do you know if 15 minutes is enough time? Did you know that if they should happen to break and fall on your clothes or your bedspread you cannot just put them into the washer. You will contaminate the sewers and water! Apparently they just have to be thrown away and you will have to do without that item or buy another. Did you know that should the CFL break onto your carpet you have to shut off the central air/heat and open in a window the next few times you vacuum? SERIOUSLY? If you would like more information about the clean-up you can look here http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=cfls.pr_cfls_mercury.

I also would like to push back on the contention that CFLs last longer than ordinary lightbulbs. I have had the same regular lightbulbs in many of my light fixtures since I moved into this house six years ago.

I think CFLs have their place in a plan to reduce energy consumption. They would work great in outside fixtures where you don't have to worry quite as much about the cleanup and exposure. Inside they are not safe.

It is interesting to me that we are so concerned about products we buy containing lead...rightly so. It too is toxic. Why are we allowing the government to REQUIRE us to put poison in our homes? Just asking.