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My hometown newspaper is running another anti-Bachmann editorial today, this one expressing outrage at Rep. Bachmann's introducing the Light Bulb Freedom Of Choice Act. Here's the heart of the editorial:
Those of us who feel misrepresented in the 6th congressional District have yet another embarrassment to endure.
We have our representative featured on the front page of the state's biggest paper with her latest endeavor: "Light Bulb Freedom of Choice."
Rep. Michele Bachmann, who ignores freedom of choice for women, denies health care for children, embraces Bush's curtailment of civil rights, and calls human involvement in global warming "voodoo", takes up a crusade for the lowly incandescent light bulb!
This is just another in a long line of clueless Bachmann haters. It hasn't dawned on the editorialist that there might be a legitimate reason for banning flourescent light bulbs. With about 8 seconds of 'Google research', I was able to find this information, which I thought was worthwhile for an informed debate:
Fact Sheet: Disposal of Spent Fluorescent Light Tubes and Mercury Vapor Lamps
Department of Public Works
City of Los Angeles
Fact Sheet
Energy efficient fluorescent lamps have gained widespread usage over the years compared to incandescent ones, fluorescent lamps are three to four times more efficient in converting electricity to visible light. This increasing use of mercury contained fluorescent lamps have led to growing concerns over its proper disposal. This fact sheet provides information on government regulations and guidelines on the proper disposal of spent fluorescent tubes and mercury vapor lamps.
Fluorescent lamps contain small quantities of mercury, cadmium and antimony. It has been estimated that between 450 and 500 million fluorescent lamps are disposed of in the United States each year, dumping over 30,000 metric tons of mercury contaminated waste into the nation's landfills'. Through improper disposal methods, mercury can travel from the soil to various water sources. Lakes have been found to be polluted with mercury, rendering fishes unsafe to eat. Concentration of mercury in fish at one Minnesota lake have increased 5 percent a year since 1970 according to a Minnesota Pollution Control Agency study. As mercury moves up the food chain, it becomes more concentrated. In concentrated foam, it is poisonous to the human nervous system.
"Industry estimates show that between 450 and 500 million fluorescent lamps are disposed of in the United States each year, dumping over 30,000 metric tons of mercury contaminated waste into the nation's landfills"
I'm confident that the last thing this editorialist wants is an informed debate. I'm confident that the editorialist is only interested in whining about Rep. Bachmann in hopes of diminishing her re-election chances.
The good news for conservatives is that it'll take alot more than this type of whiny editorial to defeat Rep. Bachmann.
UPDATE: I couldn't walk away from this without checking into Ms. LeClaire. I found a document titled Minnesota DFL Local Party Units. According to the document, Ms. LeClaire is the Chair of the DFL BPOU for Sherburne County.
Comments welcome at LFR. |
