Government Stupidity Defies Satire When a $50 Light Bulb Wins an Affordability Prize
I’ve written about the government’s war on consumer-friendly light bulbs (and also similar attacks on working toilets and washing machines that actually clean), so I’m generally not surprised by bureaucratic nonsense.
But even I’m shocked the federal government gave an affordability award for a light bulb that costs $50. I’m not making this up. Here’s a blurb from ABC News.
The U.S. government has awarded appliance-maker Philips $10 million for devising an “affordable” alternative to today’s standard 60-watt incandescent bulb. That standard bulb sells for around $1. The Philips alternative sells for $50. Of course, the award-winner is no ordinary bulb. It uses only one-sixth the energy of an incandescent. And it lasts 30,000 hours–about 30 times as long. In fact, if you don’t drop it, it may last 10 years or more. But only the U.S. Government (in this case, the Department of Energy) could view a $50 bulb as cheap.
Isn’t that wonderful? My tax dollars were used to reward a company that produced a light bulb I can’t afford.
Lisa Benson has a very good cartoon about this light bulb, as well as the less-than-shocking news thatObamacare will be more costly than originally forecast.
Daniel J. Mitchell
Daniel J. Mitchell is a top expert on tax reform and supply-side tax policy at the Cato Institute.Be the first to read Daniel J. Mitchell’s column. Sign up today and receive Townhall.com delivered each morning to your inbox.
I guess it's safe to say, the govt. is anti-American in it's policies. Oh, let's also not forget that our govt is totally corrupt and self-serving. We have an illegal living in the WH, we have an AG Eric Holder who is a criminal, we have tax cheats in positions of power. I guess we can safely say that our govt is a criminal operation running amok. Thank you Sheriff Joe Arpaio and your Cold Case Posse for exposing the Messiah in the WH for who he really is.
Are these bulbs REALLY going to save me that much money in electric each year?
Bear in mind that my electric bill is only about $250/month -- mainly due to having an electric heat pump for our HVAC needs and 7-10 computers (depending on which young adults are in residence).
Is it even theoretically possible for these bulbs to save more money in electricity than the difference in cost of purchase over standard incandescent bulbs?
As for the idea that they'll last for 10 years, ...
If you can't recoup the up-front cost in a reasonable period of time -- given our mobile society where people rarely spend decades in the same house I'd define "reasonable period of time" as 1-2 years -- you simply can't justify that cost. Especially when you also consider opportunity costs -- surely there is something else I could have used that money for over 10 years that would enhance my life more significantly.
I stocked up on lightbulbs, I dont want to have a hazmat team here, in case my kids break one of them newfangled ones.
We have several LED flashlights which we like very much for their extended battery life, bright light, and the fact that the bulbs are far more robust when the flashlight lives in the car, backpack, purse, toolbox, etc.
But in the ordinary light fixtures they're not worth it yet.
I want these idiots to stop tormenting me and let me make my own decisions. I believe I've been around long enough to earn that right.
furnished. And I'd bet there are no mercury containing bulb there. Probably none in any of the Senate or House offices either.
does it kill your $50 LED bulb?
can they be operated in both base-up and base-down positions? in enclosed fixtures?
some CFLs can't be used base-up,because the heat kills the electronic ballast.(and also makes it a fine fire hazard.)
$2,000
How is this bad for the environment?
Just hold off until the Chinese government decides to subsidizes the production of LED lighting. It will cost around $5/bulb in a few years.
Makes one wonder where Townhall manages to find it's collection of incompetent writers.
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