This is a typical liberal response to a serious problem. Consider the flow in the other direction though. Really it is the consumer that drives consumerism. So, perhaps people buy cheap light bulbs (or other goods) because they can afford them, or because they just don't want to spend $137 for a light bulb that will last 30 years. Also, if you had bought lifetime light bulbs 20 years ago, you would look like a dick with your crappy yellow lighting. We understand that rapid technological advancement often produces better alternatives. Buying cheap and disposable allows us to make easy transitions to better goods without eating those enormous opportunity costs.