Strange that we always hear that Democrats are for the little guy. If so, they wouldn’t be looking to raise taxes on small business owners, nor enact legislation that drives companies out of business, putting “the little guy” on the unemployment line
The last major GE factory making ordinary incandescent light bulbs in the United States is closing this month, marking a small, sad exit for a product and company that can trace their roots to Thomas Alva Edison’s innovations in the 1870s.
The remaining 200 workers at the plant here will lose their jobs.
“Now what’re we going to do?” said Toby Savolainen, 49, who like many others worked for decades at the factory, making bulbs now deemed wasteful.
You are, unfortunately, going to watch your jobs go elsewhere
During the recession, political and business leaders have held out the promise that American advances, particularly in green technology, might stem the decades-long decline in U.S. manufacturing jobs. But as the lighting industry shows, even when the government pushes companies toward environmental innovations and Americans come up with them, the manufacture of the next generation technology can still end up overseas.
And what could have caused this?
What made the plant here vulnerable is, in part, a 2007 energy conservation measure passed by Congress that set standards essentially banning ordinary incandescents by 2014. The law will force millions of American households to switch to more efficient bulbs.
And by “more efficient,” they mean “more costly.” CFL’s used to be a great value. Sure, you paid more, but, they lasted so much longer, and produced less heat. Now, this overseas junk lasts the same as an incandescent, costs much more, and, you still have to worry about disposal of these bulbs which contain mercury. Personally, I have switched back to mostly incandescent bulbs, after having CFLs for years.
The resulting savings in energy and greenhouse-gas emissions are expected to be immense. But the move also had unintended consequences.
Rather than setting off a boom in the U.S. manufacture of replacement lights, the leading replacement lights are compact fluorescents, or CFLs, which are made almost entirely overseas, mostly in China.
So, Democrat policies are once again killing American business, putting people out of work, and sending the jobs overseas, where the products will have lower standards, and we will all be required to purchase them.
It’s a long article, well worth the read, so, let’s just end with this
“Everybody’s jumping on the green bandwagon,” said Pat Doyle, 54, who has worked at the plant for 26 years. But “we’ve been sold out. First sold out by the government. Then sold out by GE.”
And which Party was in charge of the government that sold “the little guy” out over this man caused global warming idiocy?
This is sad news. I don’t like those new fangled light bulbs, they can catch fire.
I buy bulbs from the dollar store, you can get 4 incandescent bulbs $1. I suggest everyone start stocking up.
Bunn CFLs don’t catch fire you probably believed the fear mongering.http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/homegarden/81994142.html
Because they run so much cooler than either an incandescant or halogen CFLs are much less likely to cause a fire.
As far as the Mercury danger is concerned Teach old household thermostats used 750 times as much mercury,
And Teach I am surprised that you are not blaming the closing of the palnt on the United Electrical Workers Union that gets those workers such a hefty pay contact And Teach 90% of the mercury that ends up inside Americans comes from cola fired plants, whether you buy CFLs or not you are being poisoned by Mercury
They have COLA fired plants? Wow, that ought to be super safe AND cost effective…
I blame it on GE and their ties to the Obama admin.with visions of great contracts if the foolishly designed Cap & Tax gets passed.
Well, let’s “fact check” Ryan, shall we? After all, he said that he fact checks everyone else, so turn around is fair play.
Point #1: Bunn CFLs don’t catch fire you probably believed the fear mongering.
Ooooooo…. sorry Ryan.
http://greenwashinglamps.wordpress.com/2010/03/09/cfl-fire-hazard/
http://forums.mikeholt.com/showthread.php?t=106051
http://www.wattworks.com/CFL%20Hazards.htm
Point #2: As far as the Mercury danger is concerned Teach old household thermostats used 750 times as much mercury,
Ooooo…. oh for two there Ryan. From the EnergyStar fact sheet: “an amount equal to the mercury in 125 CFLs.”
Source: http://www.energystar.gov/ia/partners/promotions/change_light/downloads/Fact_Sheet_Mercury.pdf
Point #3: And Teach 90% of the mercury that ends up inside Americans comes from cola fired plants,
Ooooo…. strike three Ryan. You’re outta there!
“In 1995, an estimated 5,500 tons of mercury was emitted globally from both natural and human sources. Coal-fired power plants in the United States contributed less than 1 percent of the total.”
Source: http://www.fossil.energy.gov/programs/powersystems/pollutioncontrols/overview_mercurycontrols.html
Sucks to be you, Ryan.
Still working on figuring out how 5 miles is not the same as 600 yards?
Well, we never expected Truth from ‘lil johnnie in the first place…..
John,
Besides being shot down on the facts lets look at the logic of your statement. Mercury is extremely dangerous. An amount equal to a pin head can cause brain injury if it is in the same room with you. Yet you want to put more mercury in the home. Not less? Amazing how liberals think.
Dang it Teach, you beat my post by a few hours. grrrr
Ryan,
Which is more apt to break, a heated glass tube with mercury vapor\dust? Or an old fashioned tube-type thermostat that remains at room temperature, secured to a wall, and behind a protective cover?
And, shouldn’t you be more upset at adding MORE mercury in to the home? Isn’t lead paint a cause celeb for liberals of late? Is not mercury poisoning more dangerous?
Our main point, besides the health, cost, costly disposal and cleanup, … is the LOSS OF CHOICE!!!!
We have BANNED the sale of incandescents. We no longer have a choice we have had for years before. Choosing to buy these bulbs is not longer a choice.
That is very wrong.