A bright idea for Christmas shoppers

By Rebekah Rast

As you light up your final Christmas decorations this holiday season check what kind of light bulbs you are using.

If it happens to be a 100-watt incandescent bulb, you'd better stock up on some replacements now. Come Jan. 2012, this bulb will no longer be available as is here in the U.S.

The phasing out of the traditional 100-watt incandescent light bulb is only the beginning. Over the next three years, all incandescent light bulbs will be phased out unless they somehow meet the new energy requirements and become 30 percent more efficient.

These new standards have helped light bulbs like the LED (light emitting diode) and CFL (compact fluorescent light) gain in popularity. These bulbs are more efficient and last longer, but are also more expensive.

While new technology is good, it shouldn't come at the expense of restricting consumer choice.

"The government is attempting to micromanage our decisions as consumers," says Bill Wilson, president of Americans for Limited Government (ALG). "The federal government has no power to tell any citizen what types of lighting they are allowed to use."

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http://netrightdaily.com/2011/12/a-bright-idea-for-christmas-shoppers/
(This was done as political payback to GE-- they could not compete with regular incandescent bulbs from China, but can make a good profit on the new "energy efficient" MERCURY filled bulbs! ~ Lynn)