The Sam Adams Alliance recently advocated we educate Target stores that eminent domain is wrong. We did. It worked. Now, the Competitive Enterprise Institute asks that we send underwear to educate Dennis Spurgeon, the Acting Undersecretary of Energy, about counterproductive federal washer machine regulations.

Below is the rest of the story, but first, if you wish to be a part of CEI’s campaign, send your favorite unterhosen, or other clothing item of choice, to:

Mr. Dennis R. Spurgeon
U.S. Undersecretary of Energy
1000 Independence Ave., SW
Washington, DC 20585

Why mail dirty laundry to DC? CEI’s Sam Kazman writes, "Top-loading laundry machines have long been a low-priced, dependable home appliance.  But no more—the federal government has wrecked them with its energy-efficiency regulations."

Kazman cites the June 2007 Consumer Reports magazine, which noted:

"Not so long ago you could count on most washers to get your clothes very clean.  Not anymore. …What happened?  As of January, the U.S. Department of Energy has required washers to use 21 percent less energy, a goal we wholeheartedly support. But our tests have found that traditional top-loaders … are having a tough time wringing out those savings without sacrificing cleaning ability, the main reason you buy a washer."

Kazman adds, "In fact, out of the 21 new top-loader models that Consumer Reports tested, it couldn’t pick a single one as a ‘Best Buy’: '[F]or the first time in years we can’t call any washer a Best Buy because models that did a very good job getting laundry clean cost $1,000 or more.'"

Be careful when eating your cake. As the Marie Antoinettes in the Department of Energy might say, “Let them wear dirty clothes… or spend a lot of money on a washer machine that can do the job.”