Writing on the “it’s not a ban (wink, wink) on incandescent bulbs, Jacob Sullum points out some other problems with the arbitrary law: the higher prices on replacement bulbs mean “people will have to spend more money on light bulbs and less on other things they value more.”
To be sure, light bulbs are not a large expense for most households–at least for now. But the crowding-out of other purchases is a common side effect of laws, as government picks and chooses “acceptable” consumer purchases for us.
First published by the Michigan View.