Gog.org.nz

It’s all very well to encourage low-energy light bulbs – they have their place. But to contemplate a wholesale ban on old-fashioned incandescent bulbs is one of the dimmest ideas to emerge from low-voltage Labour and the under-powered Greens. They think it will be another shining opportunity for New Zealand to tell the world: “We did it first.” Unless Australia’s new Labour Government nips in and steals the laurels. Unfortunately, the sensible rest of the world will conclude that God must have put our potty politicians far away at the end of the Earth for a very good reason.

But this move also sets a very dangerous precedent.

Forget the fact that, when it comes to an integrated energy policy, the Labour-led Government has been steadfastly incoherent.

Forget the fact that every single dimmer switch will be rendered useless (and possibly hazardous) by “eco-bulbs”.

Forget the fact that these bulbs do not give out anything like the same quality of light as incandescent ones.

Overlook the fact that they often grow dimmer quite rapidly, and sometimes don’t last for the claimed life.

And the mercury content? Let it pass. The Recycling Police will take care of that, in time, and will probably fine you ten grand if you pop a dead one in the dustbin.

New Zealand’s Energy Minister David Parker and Government Spokesperson on Energy Efficiency and Conservation Jeanette Fitzsimons say that traditional light bulbs are bad because they generate too much heat and not enough light. They are out of date, inefficient, misuse too much power and give you a very poor return for your money.

Well, most people would say that politicians do precisely that.

They’d say the old bulbs emit quite enough light for their homes, and a well-insulated house can only benefit from that extra heat source.

Quite how this bunch of dreamers could imagine that the entire country can move from the old bulbs to the new within less than 18 months is hard to fathom. What is clear, though, is that not for a second have they attempted to tot up the national cost (which, naturally, will not be borne by them).

But what’s really important is that by proclaiming – without any electoral mandate whatever – the end of the incandescent by the end of 2009 and threatening any offender with a $10,000 fine, this shower of fizzing sparklers is mounting yet another assault on individual freedom of choice.

They’ve already steamrollered through anti-smacking legislation, refused to allow a referendum on it until well beyond their own personal Armageddon, and set up what amounts to the Food Police. This week, apart from threatening to pull the plug on our light bulbs, they’ve also turned their malign attention to the welfare of hairdressers. As if we didn’t have anything else to tear out our hair about…

Now that Labour and its ideologues have concluded that it is perfectly possible to dictate what people eat and how they will see in the dark, what is to stop them banning any car over 1500cc? The principle is precisely the same.

Lest there remain any doubt that this is an administration which believes in “Do as I say, not as I do”, remember that the same Minister who flashes his eco-bulbs around also flashes around in a very expensive, State-paid, gas-guzzling BMW. The same people who encourage us not to use our cars so much are busily ramping up the cost of motoring through increased fuel taxes and ACC levies, so they won’t miss out on their tax take if vehicle usage should fall.

Many grumpies will be stocking up with enough incandescent bulbs to last until the final lights-out.

And come election day, many will be inviting Parker, Fitzsimons and their mates to stick their whacko eco-policies where the Sun don’t shine. But if by some remote chance these Utopians get back into power, would the last person to leave New Zealand please turn out the light?

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