Does it seem like environmental efforts in the US are being focused on things that don't make much difference?

Like the light bulb phasing out - when you factor in the mercury pollution, the fact that most people won't dispose of CFLs properly and not to mention the loss of US jobs since most CFLs are made overseas, it's really a policy that does little if any good. The government refuses to tackle environmental issues on a larger scale. Banning drive-thru at fast food places would do a lot more than banning incandescent lightbulbs, make people park and walk in to the counter instead of idling engines and wasting gas. Cracking down on industries would be the biggest help though, but we all know corporate lobbyists keep that from happening.