Are you stocking up on incandescent bulbs? I value my eyesight and don't plan to read by a light that gives off the equivalent wattage of what my great grandfather had to put up with - whale oil.

That said, South Carolina is trying to do something about it. The Foundry:

The Incandescent Light Bulb Freedom Act, which unanimously passed South Carolina's Senate panel, would allow South Carolina manufacturers to continue to sell incandescent bulbs so long as they have "Made in South Carolina" on them and are sold only within the state. Other states have floated the idea, and last year Arizona passed a bill that would have done the same thing, but Governor Jan Brewer (R) vetoed the legislation.

Whether the legislation becomes law remains to be seen, and even if it does become law, lawsuits will likely ensue. Regardless, South Carolina's efforts demonstrate the will to remove the federal government's ability to restrict individual choice. If the compact florescent light bulb (CFL) is a better choice, consumers will make that choice without the government's push.

The complaints of CFLs are fairly well known by now. Many consumers prefer the soft yellow lighting of incandescents to the unnatural, office-like white light of fluorescents. Other critics point out that CFLs do not work well in colder temperatures, so they emit less heat, forcing Americans to use their heaters more. Residents in houses with well-and-septic systems use the heat from incandescent bulbs to keep the water above freezing. Furthermore, CFLs do not work well with dimmer switches, and the lifespan of the bulb diminishes when turned off and on frequently.

And they're more expensive. But that's all right, says the Department of Energy, because they use less energy than incandescents and last longer.

And, it's not their money so why should they care? I don't hold out much hope for this approach; states cannot overrule the federal government in matters of interstate commerce, a power granted exclusively to congress. But it should be interesting to see the arguments put forth in its favor.