Clark in favor of energy-efficient light bulb mandates

Longtime listeners know how much I espouse careful spending, smaller government, reforming Social Security, an end to Medicare/Medicaid and going to an all-private health insurance system. You could say I’m economically conservative. Some would even say that I’m a radical.

Yet I’ve got to tell you I’ve been blown away by how some conservatives are taking a stand…about the traditional light bulb! Talk about going the wrong direction!!

About 4 years ago, Congress mandated more efficient light bulbs to reduce our energy consumption as a nation in a truly bipartisan effort. Yet there’s been this freak-out factor among some members of the Republicans over the issue.

While you should never govern by polls, polling can indicate where the country is mentally on this issue. And a new Gallup poll finds three quarters of Americans like the mandates for more efficient bulbs. Moreover, almost 9 out of 10 people actually like the current alternatives to traditional bulbs that are already available, such as compact fluorescent (CFL) bulbs.

It seems to me we have bigger fish to fry in America than to turn the Edison light bulb into a political football. The traditional light bulb dates back to the 1800s, so should it be a sacred cow that gets protected well past its usefulness?! No way. The new mandates are one of the easiest ways to reduce energy consumption and the American people overwhelmingly think the mandates are good.

The funny thing is CFLs are not really very good bulbs at all. Better things like light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are coming and they’ll be far superior to the Edison bulb.

It’s no longer the 1800s, we’re in the 2010s! Technology progresses and benefits us in so many ways. We shouldn’t try to turn back the clock. I know the Clark Stinks posts are coming on this one, so I’m ready!