1144 - GreenScam (Cash for Clunkers)

wizbangpop

For Clunkers" program would spur more new car sales and put more high mileage automobiles and trucks on the streets. It was intended to be a win-win business marketing program. Indeed, at least 700,000 total new units were sold during the campaign. However, the program was not without some highly negative consequences for the auto business. Many top selling used auto lots now find themselves in a real shortage for quality used cars and trucks as so many good quality vehicles that were hardly classified as true "clunkers" were turned in and destroyed in the program. Even many new car dealers who sell used cars find themselves being forced to run ads offering cash or high trade values for quality used vehicles to sell.
NY Times negative comments

Surprisingly Negative Comments re: Cash for Clunkers from NY Times readers
New York Times

Posted on Friday, July 31, 2009 7:35:53 PM by Ge0ffrey

Many NY Times readers seem to be bashing Congress's cash for clunker program. That's surprising because comments posted to NY Times articles usually run 9-1 (rough guess) in support of wacky left-wing causes.

Here's an example:

This is classic American legislation:

1. Reward the wrongdoers (i.e., those who bought and drive gas hogs). For this crowd: Drive a polluting, climate-changing, Al Qaeda-supporting pick-up or SUV for a few years, then get a $4,500 credit toward a new car.

2. Punish the responsible citizens (i.e., those who made frugal choices, but are enlisted to help pay for the free ride given to the wrongdoers). For this crowd: nothing but driving their well-made but certainly not immortal Hondas, Toyotas and Nissans toward the 200,000 mile mark, and crossing fingers that they will make it.

3. Fail to account for the true cost of the program.

What we should have in place of this boondoggle for the undeserving is a surtax on all vehicles with under 18 MPG, with all proceeds of the surtax going to renewable energy, energy conservation and mass transit projects. Rather than reward these slobs, make them pay.