When conservatives object to laws that make their light bulbs illegal to manufacture for sale, or make their toilets not flush as well — and when Republicans object to these laws — liberals often respond with condescending mockery.

Look how petty Republicans are, making hay over light bulbs! (For instance, check out the Washington Post’s Stephen Stromberg being impatient with Republicans for being “still riled up about light bulbs,”or Gail Collins exuding some good New York Times-style disdain for the rubes in the provinces: