I've found the perfect example of this administration' bumbling.

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   tobey100posted 14 years ago

   In trying to ignore the media, both left and right, and 'discover' what I can about this President, I came across a perfect example of the disarray and lack of direction characteristic of this administration.  If it weren't so sad it'd be funny.  As one of his first Presidential acts, Obama, on behalf of the country, signed on to the Mercury Reduction Pact with 140 other nations.  One month later he issued an executive order requiring the replacement of standard light bulbs and continues to push the use of the CFL bulb.  CFL bulbs contain, guess what? Mercury!  None of Obama's genius science advisors knew this???

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      thooghunposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Inconsistency is the hallmark of corporately driven politics. Public interests rarely coincide with business interests.
      
      Of course, it's easy to deconstruct.
      
      On a positive note, at least corporate control is more laudable than other systems of government such as a "Father knows best state" or alternatively a dictatorship.
      
      It could be worse!

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         Brenda Durhamposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         Umm...the O Administration has already been touted as a "Father knows best state" several times BY the liberal media, and perpetuated by Obama's words.  And it's very close to being a dictatorship already.
         
         Don't be fooled.

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            thooghunposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            I've heard the reasons, but let's be honest here. While Obama is known to be patronizing and condescending at times, its a long shot paralleling this to His Excellency Saparmurat Türkmenbaşy, President of Turkmenistan and Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers (yes, thats his title). Who banned smoking in public spaces after he had quit smoking due to heart surgery. Banned make-up and all hospitals outside of Ashgabat were ordered shut, with Niyazov feeling that sick people should come to the capital for treatment.
            
            This is the kind of thing I'm referring to.
            
            Secondly, calling the U.S a dictatorship is an insult to people who are being governed by dictatorships. Despite Obama, you retain freedoms that most of the world can still only dream of.

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               tobey100posted 14 years agoin reply to this

               Having lived in two countries very similar to the description given by Thoogun, I must agree with him.  Obama may be a joke, a threat to the country and totally unqualified to lead this nation but, we still have recourse when it comes to his policies where other nations do not.  We forget we have the right to complain, to protest, to actively seek to change the current adminstration.  Sadly others have never tasted that form of freedom.  Maybe some day!!!

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                  A Texanposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                  "we still have recourse when it comes to his policies where other nations do not."
                  
                  Tobey, the reason we have the above mentioned rights is because we will fight our own government to keep those rights!
                  
                  We are unique in this world because we don't take a whole lot of shit!

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                     tobey100posted 14 years agoin reply to this

                     I was trying to be gentle but of course you're right.  Once you settle for being stepped on just a little, it ain't too long till you're the door mat.  Knowing that most American's will only take so much I really ain't to afraid of Obama or anthing he can do.  Sooner or later he's gonna reach that point where we say 'Nope, no more'

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   Ohmaposted 14 years ago

   OBumble knows best?

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   kirstenblogposted 14 years ago

   My first thought on the title of this thread was 'just the one perfect example?' and 'just this administration, why not every administration since I have been alive!, at least!'. Seems I am in good company

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      tobey100posted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Point taken.  you're right

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   Flightkeeperposted 14 years ago

   President Zero zigs and zags and is incoherent.  People should know this by now.

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   Hokeyposted 14 years ago

   Obama is a fad. He will be gone at the next election. 

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   EFPotterposted 14 years ago

   The CFL light bulb has a longer lifetime, preventing more waste than normal bulbs, and uses much less energy. The National electronics Manufacturers Association has put a cap on the amount of mercury in CFL light bulbs, as has Europe, parts of which are also part of the pact, which also uses these. When used in coal-fired plants, due to reduced use of energy, CFL bulbs also REDUCE the MERCURY OUTPUT of the burned coal.
   
   "In the United States, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimated that if all 270 million compact fluorescent lamps sold in 2007 were sent to landfill sites, that this would represent around 0.13 tons (US), or 0.1% of all U.S. emissions of mercury (around 104 tons (US)) that year."
   
   Disposed of properly, the benefits to energy and waste greatly outweigh the mercury. This is an inconsequential and easily argued-down point, therefore hardly "perfect," example of "bumbling."

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      Flightkeeperposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      It is bumbling, if you break that bulb which has toxic mercury, you have to go to lengths to dispose of it properly which means you have to find a site that will handle toxic waste and make sure you or anyone else doesn't get hurt in the process.  How user friendly is that?

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         EFPotterposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         How many other things do we own that are toxic if broken, ingested, come in contact with skin, are disposed of improperly, or other things that aren't "user friendly"? Should we not use computers? Car batteries? Cell phones, camera, the list goes on and on. One kind of light bulb is ridiculous nit-picking. These "lengths" are to open a window for fifteen minutes and make sure no one walks through the breakage area. Would you let people walk through an area where you just broke a drinking glass or normal light bulb? No. If you're claiming that opening a window is some momentous difficulty, then, you need more exercise.
         
         These light bulbs are recycled in the same way other things are recycled--you gather them up and take them somewhere. If you don't have an issue with putting soda cans in a bag and taking them to a machine to recycle, you shouldn't have a problem with this.

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            Flightkeeperposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            They are not openly toxic like the mercury.  Right now if you break a light bulb you can just sweep it up.  You can't do that with the mercury bulbs.  You have to stop what you're doing, put the kids in another room and dispose of it right away.

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               EFPotterposted 14 years agoin reply to this

               Would you keep kids around and let a normal broken light bulb sit around for a couple hours while you watch TV? You're disposing of it right away, either way.
               
               You can vacuum it up, you just need to dispose of the vacuum bag in plastic (such as, you know, a garbage bag) after that.
               
               CFLs are 100% recyclable over time.

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                  Flightkeeperposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                  Most people do not go to a facility and I'm certainly not going out of my way just for a light bulb.  I'll use the light bulbs when you personally come to dispose it for me since it's not a problem for you. You'll be my personal disposer. Thanks

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               Randy Godwinposted 14 years agoin reply to this

               The same can be said for spilling ammonia, bleach, or many other toxic chemicals found around the home.  This thread is just one of many examples of trying to cause controversy by misconstruing the information available.

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                  EFPotterposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                  Exactly. Thank you so much, Randy.
                  
                  And Flightkeeper, I'm just going to go ahead and put you in the category of lazy people who don't care about recycling, and are only willing to get behind something if someone ELSE will do it for them. You're within your right to do it, there's no law requiring you recycle, or care.

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                     Flightkeeperposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                     Oh I'm so hurt! I've already put you in the fascist category.

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                        EFPotterposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                        Do you know what a fascist is? A lot of people use it incorrectly, and considering I haven't demonstrated need for a strong national leader, war waging on other countries, the nation giving the individual identity, or...well, anything else fascist, I think you need a dictionary. I mean, I don't want to turn this into a case on "Someone on the internet is WRONG!" but fascism is actually a pretty big and well-defined thing.

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                           Flightkeeperposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                           Well, I'm glad you know so I don't have to explain it for you.

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                     Randy Godwinposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                     No problem,EF!  Some just cannot grasp technology, you have to draw a picture for them in some cases.  The dislike of a particular individual clouds the thinking process of many people to the point of hating the messenger.

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                        Flightkeeperposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                        Yes, you should know.

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                           Randy Godwinposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                           How do those shoes feel?

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                              Flightkeeperposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                              They don't fit because they're yours!

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                                 EFPotterposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                                 You have officially resorted to, "I KNOW YOU ARE BUT WHAT AM I?"
                                 
                                 You win.

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                                    Flightkeeperposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                                    You were the only one playing

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                                    Randy Godwinposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                                    I told you to draw a picture for her.

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                                 Randy Godwinposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                                 They're too small, right?

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                                    Flightkeeperposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                                    No, they're just not made for humans.

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                                       Randy Godwinposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                                       Try buying a cheap pair of snakeskin shoes!

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                                          Flightkeeperposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                                          Yes, it would be cheap since they're yours.

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                                             Randy Godwinposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                                             Intelligent AND wealthy,eh?

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                                                Flightkeeperposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                                                Ask Potter to draw you a picture

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                                                   Randy Godwinposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                                                   Can she use your crayons?  Or have you eaten them again?  Silly is fun isn't it?

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                                                      Flightkeeperposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                                                      Sorry, don't have time for silly right now.

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                                                         Randy Godwinposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                                                         Why quit now?

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                                                            Flightkeeperposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                                                            Well, you apparently have the time for it, so keep going.

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                                                               Randy Godwinposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                                                               Same old story, no one wants to play with the snake.  Here, Flightkeeper, have an apple.  It'll make you smart!

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   tobey100posted 14 years ago

   Personally, I don't recycle, I'm not 'going green', I don't worry about the climate, I eat whale meat and none of my friends are polar bears or even know one first hand.  Don't legislate my life.  I do fine without the government's 'concern'.

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      EFPotterposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Would you have a problem if the government said you couldn't own mercury light bulbs? Just an academic question, and a view point on this I haven't considered before.

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         Arthur Fontesposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         Would that be any different then saying you have to use Mercury filled bulbs.  You are not allowed to use incandescent bulbs.
         Same thing just different.

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            EFPotterposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            I agree. I have views on what's good and not good for me to use, related to what's good for the environment, but government mandating either way wouldn't be a good thing. In the case of severe health risks (such as lead, and large amounts of mercury), sure.

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         tobey100posted 14 years agoin reply to this

         Nope.  They can say whatever they want to.  If I want them I'll get them.  I feel the same way about all these codes and regulations.  When I built my house I owned the land first.  I didn't ask codes permission to build on my own land.  they came out about three years later mad as hornets.  I told them they weren't allowed on my property.  That was 27 years ago.  Haven't seen them since.  I'm not really that much of a rebel.  I've just had enough.  I don't need a babysitter.  Now some might.  I say go take care of them, leave me alone.  One size does NOT fit all.

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   Crazdwriterposted 14 years ago

   Just wanted to say I like the word you chose Tobey...Bumbling is a good word
   
   oh hey how are you doing now? is your nose and wrist all healed up?

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