The world has seen that if ever a utopian scheme becomes law, that law achieves the opposite of the intended utopian effect. Call it “Longman’s Lemma” if someone else doesn’t already claim it. And nowhere can that proverbial truth be observed more laughably than in Congress’ compact fluorescent light bulbs.

Echoing around my head from some required eco-indoctrinaire experience in my educational past was this unconnected fact: “Some homes in Sweden are heated entirely with incandescent light bulbs.” I don’t remember where I’d heard this; it was being held up as an example of what errant Americans could do if only we let Bob Villa overwhelm our R-factors and insulate our attics properly. In colonial days, we were to be ashamed of our immorality; today we are supposed to be ashamed of our Owens-Corning.  Full Piece