Pop wrote...
What? Of COURSE in NA! The only power in a properly plugged in
lamp socket is the small metal in the bottom center of the
socket. The threaded metal is neutral; no harmful voltage there.
That's why lamps have polarized plugs if the mains connects to
the bulb.

Are you saying that no US mains-powered lamps can be plugged into a standard
two-pin socket? I find that a bit hard to believe.

Anyway, apart from that, in the event of a disconnected-neutral fault (eg
broken wire or loose terminal in the plug) the "neutral" at the lamp will
rise to mains potential. The user will probably assume the fault is a blown
bulb and could receive a mains shock if he could come into contact with any
part of the cap before it is unscrewed from the holder.

David