Going (Green) to Be Making Green (with Envy)

Recently, Congress passed an atrocious energy bill that the President, for some reason unknown, decided to sign into law. One of the more egregious inclusions in this energy policy was the federal mandate that by the year 2012 the incandescent light bulb would be laid to rest. In its stead we will be forced to endure the ever-so-soft glow of the newfangled invention that has left Thomas Edison rolling over in his grave: the Compact Fluorescent Light bulb, or CFL. The environmentalists touting the CFL like to yammer on about its energy saving capabilities, and how it will salvage us from the ever looming threat that is climate change.

But there is something else that the we have not been told, which is that CFLs contain mercury. That’s right, the element that is often derided by those same environmentalists as so life damaging that it had to be removed from thermometers, that we are told is contained in nontrivial levels in many freshwaters fish, and is tied to the sudden autism-vaccine alarmism, has been placed into the light bulbs that we are suddenly being told by congress that we will have no choice but to buy.

And why is this?

Do CFLs actually stop global warming? Do they actually manage to reduce your electric bill by a jaw dropping, eye popping amount?

The answer to these questions is contentious, and truthfully, neither here nor there when it comes to the CFL issue. The true answer lies in the fully intended consequence of lobbying the government to embrace green policies and agendas.

I’m talking about the price of going green. I’m talking about the fact that many individuals and organizations out there seek to make green, by having us go green. But I’m not only talking about former vice presidents whose pockets are suddenly full of hundred dollar bills, nobel prizes, Oscars and enough carbon credits to allow him to use more than 10 times the electricity that the average American uses. I’m talking about CEOs from certain corporations, whose stock options ride on their ability to get people to buy their overpriced “green” products. I’m talking about environmental organizations, whose memberships has been hijacked following the fall of the Soviet Union by communist sympathizers who seek to use global government mandates to tax people to death and take away their freedom to choose for themselves. I’m talking about the media, who, in an effort to turn a quick buck and jump on the nearest, most convenient bandwagon, have decided to deride us and make us feel guilty for not buying green products, having green collar jobs, for not drinking green beer while not wearing green on St. Patrick’s day.

We are being urged to go green by an argument of morality, that to not go green and thus preserve the earth for future generations is akin to committing crimes against humanity. But looking deeper, we see that taking on the cause only serves to empty our own pockets, while filling those of the select few who lead the green pledge.

And so we are pushed and prodded to buy green, to spend more money on products that have smaller carbon footprints. We are asked to buy our groceries from local sources, to decrease on CO2 emissions from transporting. We’re asked to buy windows with better insulation for twice the cost. We are made to feel foolish when we buy a car that isn’t a hybrid, or even a car that gets fewer than 20 miles per gallon. When we refuse to buy far more expensive CFL bulbs, we are legislated into having no other choice.

Now this is not to say that some of these options are bad ideas, because many of these products can save us money in the long run. There is wisdom in buying appliances with the energy star rating, in order to save on your electric bill.

Hybrid cars have succeeded due to many economical factors that made it beneficial for consumers to purchase them. Sales of hybrid cars have skyrocketed mostly because people want to pay less for gasoline, not because they are concerned about their carbon footprint. If gasoline cost one dollar per gallon, we would see fewer hybrid cars on the streets, and most likely would see even more SUVs.

But the key is that we are given the choice. In a free market economy, better products win if they can be offered at the right price, or if the savings from buying them makes up for the added cost. Congress did not need to mandate people to buy Hybrid cars. Consumers were smart enough to see how the economy was working, and start purchasing them on their own.

When a newer, more expensive product fails to catch consumer interest, it is not without good reason. Many products branded as being green do not fail to catch on because of disinterest on the part of the American consumer. These products fail to make money because of the fact that people simply do not want to pay for them.

However, because our politicians are only a donation away, there is little effort required in getting Congress to pass legislation that forces the public to adopt green policies. Suddenly, choice is no longer allowed. The right to choose where and how we spend our money and what to do with our property becomes curtailed. And so we are left with CFLs, unreachable CAFE standards, higher gasoline, oil, coal and natural gas taxes, all done in the name of environmental protectionism.

And so you’re probably left wondering, how does this somewhat incoherent rant relate to the hidden price of CFLs? So what if they contain Mercury? All one has to do is look at the disposal instructions to see where the problem lies. When a break occurs, one must, and I quote, “Open the window and leave the room for 15 minutes or more. Shut off central forced air/air conditioning system, if you have one.” And towards the end, they indicate, “The next several times you vacuum, shut off the central forced-air heating/air conditioning system and open a window prior to vacuuming. Keep the central heating/air conditioning system shut off and the window open for at least 15 minutes after vacuuming is completed.” And these are only small fragments of the laundry list of steps on must complete for proper removal of a broken CFL.

So in the winters of 2012 and beyond, after dropping and breaking your CFL bulb, as the temperature outside is 15 degrees and your house is freezing because the window is open, and you are wondering how much of your electricity savings will be offset by the huge increase in your heating bill, look back on this moment, and remember that we should always be wary when the government attempts to impose upon us something not explicitly desired by the American people. Remember that when the government and green activists attempt to bypass our free market economy and traditions of capitalism, we are the ones left to pay the high price of going green.

The environment is meaningful, but the economy and personal freedom are also important. We cannot trade any one for the other, nor should we want to. There is a balance to be found, where all factors necessary to a good and happy life can be maximized without having to sacrifice too much of one or the other. If we truly want to make the planet into a place worth living for future generations, it is this balance that we must always reasonably strive to achieve.