Freedom's Light Dims

Ramirez. Among the wonders of Waxman-Markey:

21. The bill regulates every light fixture under the sun. Actually, the sun might be the only light source that isn’t regulated specifically in this legislation. There are rules governing fluorescent lamps, incandescent lamps, intermediate base lamps, candelabra base lamps, outdoor luminaires, portable light fixtures — you get the idea. The government actually started down this road by regulating light bulbs in the 2005 energy bill. This bill merely tightens the regulations, which means the unintended consequences produced by the 2005 bill — more expensive light bulbs that burn out quicker — will probably get worse.

Then there are all the appliances that come under the EPA's harsh eye--and your home. Will your leaded-glass windows cost you an arm and a leg? Will your old house become an eyesore to the eco-police? Will you go broke being forced to green-up your home? There goes more of your shrinking retirement nest egg. All in thrall to an iffy possibility of a slight shift in climate in a hundred years--from people who can barely predict tomorrow's weather. Dump this dim bulb of a bill that will ruin us.