What do light bulbs have to do with it?

Bruce brought up an excellent point in his response to the healthcare debate video, "What do light bulbs have to do with it?" This is a very interesting question and I thought it deserved an answer.

By 2012, the government has mandated that all light bulbs manufactured must only be compact fluorescent bulbs and that all other types of bulbs be phased out by that time. The primary motivation behind this is to save energy as well as to dramatically reduce carbon emissions. This is all very well intended, it is good to save the earth. However, what is not widely discussed or publicized is that these light bulbs have a high concentration of mercury and if broken require a hazmat team to clean them up. So, if you break a light bulb in your home, in order to protect yourself from mercury poisoning, you must hire a hazmat team to come and clean it up at an expense to you of approximately $1200. When I discovered this I quickly changed out all low lying bulbs in our home to the now old fashioned tungsten ones. Since than my son has broken 2 bulbs. Thankfully, we did not need hazmat both times.

While this information is listed in small print on the back of the packaging, it is not widely know. The other issue is that these bulbs cannot be disposed of in the regular garbage or recycling. Did you know that? In order to be properly cared for since they are considered a hazardous substance they must be taken to a proper recycling facility in your area, as mentioned on the packaging. Where is this center, I have no idea. I am sure the extra car trip possibly cancels out the saved carbon emissions.

I am guessing that what Congressman Rogers was referring to in his tirade regarding government involvement in our lives is that the government often makes mandates with good intentions, like saving the earth, but often does not consider the unintended consequences. What are we going to do when our landfills are littered with hazardous mercury bulbs because no one knows where to dispose of them or bothers to take them to the proper facility? Possibly this is a trade off, (I am no environmentalist or scientist), but now we will have cleaner air but dirtier land? This is just an small example of the government getting involved in the details of our lives which has the potential to not work out exactly as intended. Many people, I think, are turned off by this potential with healthcare as well as other areas of reform. Let me no what you think....