The Government is Banning a Product Used by 80% of the Country

Shouldn't the government have more pressing concerns at this point? This is basically just rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic.

I've thought a high tax would be more effective than a ban. It would allow for the continuation of a niche market while encouraging transition to more efficient bulbs.

But "tax" is anathema, in the U.S. ("Banning", OTOH, fits well into our "Puritan heritage".)

As an aside, if we must have mercury laden bulbs, they should be protectively encased, as are the more expensive but safer and easier to handle bulbs I now purchase. I still don't feel comfortable with them. With the unencased models, I've had defective units start to come apart in my hands. And as for breakage, I've no idea -- nor confidence in -- how the person before me has cleaned up an accident.