'Cash for clunkers' -or- 'Dumbest name for a government program ever'

[Nique]

An MSNBC article.

Anyone taking advantage of this? No one really seems to be too vocal about this as far as left/right wingers, except that the administration is trying to get more funding for the program.

I was *this* close to being eligable but our Van was turned over to us in Dec of last year (: )thanks Grandma!) and as I understand you have to have owned your "clunker" for one year by November of '09.

There's a lot of talk of this being good for the economy, and I guess it seems like a good quick fix for the auto-market but I mean, all the money being given away plus people won't be spending as much on gas over the next 1-5 years at least with their fuel-economy cars?

[01d55]

The Economist doesn't like it.

[Nique]

Hm. I can see why but that sort of feels like looking a gift horse in the mouth. It's kind of hard to complain about it except that I don't get to take advantage of it.

[katiuska]

My mom finally got a car (after my dad totaled her last one two years ago) in exchange for Dad's old truck. I would have gotten a new one too, but my car technically falls under the same household, so I get to continue driving my gas-guzzling '94 Ford. I've been expecting to have to buy a new car full-price within the next couple of years anyway, though, so nothing changes for me.

I'm not really sure what this does to the economy, though if the government is going to hand out money, I guess it's nice that we're getting it this time instead of companies that brought about their own failure.

[TheSparrow]

I just watched this whole Cash for Clunkers mess and thought, these guys can't figure out how to run an auto buyback program without running out of money in the first WEEK, and these are the same people that want to take over healthcare?

I'm getting to the point where I wouldn't trust a member of congress to do my taxes. (I would also assume none of them have any experience paying taxes, if Obama's picks for various posts of the last eight months are any indication too) :p

[Ryanderman]

In addition to the usual complaints about Government redistribution of wealth, which are going to come with any program like this, I've heard some concerns regarding what this'll do to the used car and scrap yard industries. The engines and drive trains of these cars need to be scrapped, so the concern is that it'll create an artificial shortage in used cars and in used parts that will adversely affect many small business owners.

Is this valid?

[Magus]

Not for that reason, as all still-usable parts from the car outside of the engine block (the engine blocks are ruined by having liquid glass poured into where the oil goes and then the engine is run until it is beyond repair) are allowed to be salvaged. Rather, I would think it would cause an increase in used parts piling up and lack of revenue for these businesses as the people will be driving new cars which require less maintenance and repairs than old cars.

I have no problem with the program other than that my car didn't qualify, as apparently it gets 20 miles to the gallon highway and the maximum is 18. However, the car is a 1999 Ford Taurus so I believe that in truth it actually gets less than that. They have to go by what the Blue Book (or whatever) says, however, so what it got in 1999 is what they have to go by, unfortunately

Originally Posted by TheSparrow

I just watched this whole Cash for Clunkers mess and thought, these guys can't figure out how to run an auto buyback program without running out of money in the first WEEK, and these are the same people that want to take over healthcare?

Yes, because enthusiastic love and support and participation for a program by the average American, over and above what was expected, means it should be scrapped.

[Odjn]

Originally Posted by Ryanderman

In addition to the usual complaints about Government redistribution of wealth, which are going to come with any program like this, I've heard some concerns regarding what this'll do to the used car and scrap yard industries. The engines and drive trains of these cars need to be scrapped, so the concern is that it'll create an artificial shortage in used cars and in used parts that will adversely affect many small business owners.

Is this valid?

While I'm always for small business, there's no way to remove cars that are generally inefficient for gas usage without crippling used car sales as they are the majority of the inefficient models.

[Professor Smarmiarty]

All this money should go into public transport. Replacing polluting cars with slightly less polluting cars is not that much of a fix. And just producing all these new cars creates a lot of pollutants.

[Doc ock rokc]

I can see what They are trying to do but This is stupid...all it has done is make more debt! that We have to pay off later!

Originally Posted by Smarty McBarrelpants

All this money should go into public transport. Replacing polluting cars with slightly less polluting cars is not that much of a fix. And just producing all these new cars creates a lot of pollutants.

...alot of shit is like this
You know those expencive all natrualy grown vegetables only sold in farmers markets (in which are usualy located in Nowhere but traffic) are shiped to us in ether Crud ships that guzzle down gas like you wouldn't believe or Crud planes that do the same! Yet people drive a cross town to these places to buy them!