California’s War on Consumers

There was a time when buying a light bulb did not require government permission.

Jim Cardoza | September 3, 2026

There was a time when buying a light bulb did not require government permission. Customer demand dictated market choices. You walked into a store, examined the alternatives, considered price and quality, and bought the one you wanted. The manufacturer wanted to sell it. The merchant wanted to stock it. You wanted to buy it. Three voluntary parties agreed; nobody else’s rights were violated, and that was the end of the matter.

But that arrangement is incompatible with the agenda of California’s overlords.

Today, while shopping online, Californians routinely encounter a disturbing message: “This item cannot be shipped to your location.” Change the delivery address to Nevada, Arizona, Oregon, or another state, and suddenly the same perfectly ordinary product becomes available.

California has imposed restrictions against a growing number of appliances, light bulbs, faucets, showerheads, computers, televisions, air conditioners, pool equipment, gasoline containers, automotive products, and countless other ordinary goods. Energy efficiency, water consumption, emissions, chemical composition, and certification requirements have been deployed as the pretexts for these restrictions.

The premise of a free society is that individuals own themselves. They consequently possess the moral authority to make peaceful decisions concerning their own lives and property. The American government was designed to protect that freedom, not to restrict it.

If a Californian prefers a particular showerhead, air conditioner, or light bulb, why should a........

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