N.J. Lawmaker Spits On Edison’s Grave

Yesterday, New Jersey Assemblyman Larry Chatzidakis — a Republican from Burlington — introduced a bill that would phase out incandescent light bulbs in state buildings in favor of fluorescent ones.

Fluorescent light bulbs cost a bit more, but they use much less energy and last longer. Americans have been slow to change to these money-saving bulbs because, well, we’re stupid, and fluorescent bulbs used to not work so well. (Now they can be dimmed, work just as well as incandescents, etc.)

But when proposing his bill, Assemblyman Larry came up with another idea for why people aren’t changing: devotion to Thomas Edison.

The light bulb was invented a long time ago and a lot of things have changed since then. I obviously respect the memory of Thomas Edison, but what we’re looking at here is using less energy.

Wait. Exactly how would changing to a more energy-efficient bulb be disrespecting the memory of Thomas Edison? Would the late Edison rise from the grave and attack us? Do his relatives still receive residual checks for every light bulb sold?

Assemblyman Larry must know something. Let’s tread lightly into this world of florescent light bulbs. We don’t want to upset Thomas Edison.

Lawmakers Take Dim View Of Edison’s Light Bulb [AP/CBS 3]