Comments on: Obama’s f—ing lightbulbs

By: Anna

Anna — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 21:14:00 +0000

To paraphrase HGTV, “change starts are home.”

By: Fake Plastic Fish

Fake Plastic Fish — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 07:10:00 +0000

Noelle — that’s why I think it’s so important for our leaders to “walk their talk.” Al Gore’s carbon footprint does bother me. Not the air travel — that’s a necessity to get to speaking gigs which have a very positive impact — but the energy used in his home. When that story broke, I was so disappointed. Of course Obama can do much more with his power than change a few lightbulbs. But he ALSO needs to change those lightbulbs to set the example for the rest of us.

If someone says, “Al Gore has a huge carbon footprint and he’s asking me to inflate my tires? Forget him…” then Al Gore hasn’t done his job, as far as I’m concerned.

How many politicians does it take to change a lightbulb?

None. They all have staff to do it for them. All they have to do is give the instructions for it to be done. I, on the other hand, have to climb up on a ladder.

By: David

David — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 22:33:00 +0000

I agree 100% Beth, and I wrote about it today as well in the abstract. He knows better, though – and I think he was just frustrated with the reporter. But, many environmental pundits say the same thing, and I don’t like to hear it from anyone.

By: Noelle

Noelle — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 19:27:00 +0000

I’m not too bothered by the comment. I can tell that he’s frustrated by the question. As a Presidential candidate, he wants to talk about what he can do with the big picture, because he’s one of the few people in the world who can deal with the big picture. Asking what he did personally is irrelevant, because he has the power to do so much more.

Besides, questions like that, that focus on the personal lives of our leaders, rather than the big picture of what they can do, lead to traps that get used by anti-global warming to brush off making change: “Al Gore has a huge carbon footprint and he’s asking me to inflate my tires? Forget him…”

By: Hvnlyrn

Hvnlyrn — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 15:11:00 +0000

I was feeling a little down, because I’ve been frustrated with how very plastic I am. I’ve made a few small changes, but I’m nowhere near where I could be. But then at church, a lady told me that her husband had bought a tiffin because he loved mine so much, and the whole family had bought Kleen Kanteens. And, because of a discussion of being less disposable at church, we’re making plans to change from throw-away plasticware to silverware and re-usable plates. I still can’t get my husband to remember to bring and use the re-usable grocery bags, but I am making a difference, no matter how small – ripples.

By: Virginia

Virginia — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 14:24:00 +0000

I just discovered you via BlogHer and am impressed by what you are doing here. I read your list of ways to avoid plastic and will subscribe to your feed. Thanks for working so hard on this issue.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 02:42:00 +0000

Of course changing lightbulbs is important, as is using [at least mostly] non plastic shopping bags, or decling the use of any bag for a small purchase. Ultimately it will save YOU $$.

Good for the environment, good for you.

And what is it with you Yanks about hanging up clothes on a clothesline? Cheap, effective [ maybe not in a northern winter] and cost free. It is the norm most everywhere else!!!

By: heather

heather — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 19:13:00 +0000

A couple thoughts here on Obama's comments, besides the obvious pressure...

1. Sounds like Obama's overthinking the question. Brian wants to know if Barack has changed anything in his personal life, and Barack is trying to give the best answer without coming off sounding like something people might consider trite like changing lightbulbs.

2. I imagine that someone with Obama's life doesn't do a lot of the household things that we do. He's not doing his own grocery shopping where he can use canvas tote; he's not doing his own laundry where he can hang vs using the dryer. And the demands of his schedule are such that he's not walking or taking the bus many places.

But he has planted a bunch of trees and changed his lightbulbs, which is something he can do and more than a lot of people are willing to do.

By: Fake Plastic Fish

Fake Plastic Fish — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 19:03:00 +0000

Everyone -- I don't suffer from split personality disorder! There is another Beth Terry and she reads this blog! http://bethterry.com

And yes, it freaks me out each time she comments or sends me an email, but then again I freak her out too.

Okay, now I'll get back to reading your comments. Just wanted to clear that up.

Beth (aka Fake Plastic Fish, NOT the motivational speaker.)

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 18:56:00 +0000

New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman, in promoting his new book "Flat, Hot, and Crowded", always repeats a key line from it, that it's more important to change your leaders than your lightbulbs. Here is one place he does so.