ca$h for clunker$ @ stealership

[gstoli]

I don't even vote here, so why am I defending Obama's policy???
Well, I don't, I just think CARS is a program in the right direction.

A teenager can always buy a car for a few $$$. The cars in the 1-3K range are typically the old camrys focuses civics and so, that don't qualify as clunkers because of their (relatively) high mpg (higher than 18).
Now if a teenager wants to buy a 1990 Wrangler (that qualifies as a clunker), well he (or she) shouldn't!

The old guy from Cleveland with the 30 years old Caprice is driving a car for 30 years with an average millage per day less than 30 (30 miles * 300 days * 30 years = 300K miles => the engine is dead or will die very soon). His Caprice doesn't qualify as a clunker because of the 25-years-old upper limit of the CARS program. It shouldn't because it's not being driven a lot and it will die soon (if it's not almost dead, left in a backyard, waiting for some stupid government to call it a "clunker" ). These cars will not have a significant effect on tomorrow's oil consumption.

The CARS program, is a tax brake. When we trade clunkers between us, generally when we buy a used car, we don't pay tax (or at least is negligible). So, when you trade your 15 years old 16 MPG clunker for a 12 years old 18 MPG better clunker and the government pays you $4000, then it's me and you who are actually paying that money. Do you want that? I don't...

And finally, the clunkers are not supposed to be sold because the whole point is to stop using them! If the government sells them for (say) $1K, then the concept of CARS is lost... The inefficient clunkers will still be used...

The beauty of the program is endless IMO . The only thing that is wrong is that a low MPG "clunker" typically costs $3-5K anyway... So, the $4.5K are not as tempting. If you are going to make an omelet you need to brake some eggs (pay a few extra $$$, so the customer is really tempted for change) ....

[Brucelee]

As the resident libertarian, I am all for small small government. You can understand why I think the Feds meddling in car purchases is not such a good idea.

But, hey, I could be wrong!

[Lil bastard]

Originally Posted by Brucelee

As the resident libertarian, I am all for small small government. You can understand why I think the Feds meddling in car purchases is not such a good idea.

But, hey, I could be wrong!

I agree completely. And CARS is just the beginning.

If anyone really want to get the ******************** scared out of them, download the text of H.R. 3200 the "America’s Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009". The degree to which this act wants to direct the choices and level of care you may have, and intrude into your lives, such as complete and involuntary access to your financial records, is truly hair raising. It makes the Canadian and British healthcare system look good by comparison.

My most disturbing issue with the current Congress, and Administration (beyond policymaking) is the degree of secrecy and lack of debate on issues which have very real effects on both our wallets and our lives.

To date, any legislation (or Presidential Orders) has rarely seen the light of day until it has already been enacted as the 'Law of the Land'. There seems to be a priority on rushing everything through with little debate or explanation to the American people for fear that opposition may rise up. I believe that right now, it is more important than ever before to scrutinize everything coming out of our government... we're in this fix because of our collective abstinence and apathy for what is going on on our behalf, easy to assign blame elsewhere, especailly when the root cause is us!

Yet, through all this - (the poor economy, TARPS payments of millions, citizens of all strata tightening their belts), Congress still found the time to give itself a raise and fund a new fleet of private jets for their use.

IMHO, any healthcare proposal should first start with Congress and the White House doing away with their generous pension and healthcare plans! They should be forced to use, and pay into, Social Security and Medicare like all the rest of us. Then, and only then, will you see these programs improve for all of us.

[Brucelee]

I agree completely. What galls me is the arrogance of these Congressman. They act like royalty, impervious to how the rest of the world lives.

As an example, as one bill come forward that has addressed how the USA will be economically competitive with the rest of the world?

How about the vanishing industrial base?

Instead, I hear BO feels that all US Citizens have a RIGHT to healthcare and a RIGHT to higher education. I guess we have a RIGHT to a new car too.

How can this nonsense be tolerated>?

A chicken is every pot was never true.

[tnoice]

Doesn't the Federal Government already have the power to look at your financial records through the immense power of the IRS!!

[Lil bastard]

Originally Posted by tnoice

Doesn't the Federal Government already have the power to look at your financial records through the immense power of the IRS!!

Yes they do, but in fairly narrowly defined way, using a little thing we like to call Probable Cause.

Even in a random IRS audit the IRS can only use your income as reported by your employer or you Bank or financial institutions. If they want to probe deeper, they must first seek a warrant after first presenting Probable Cause before an elected magistrate (who acts on your behalf to protect your personal freedoms).

[mptoledo]

Originally Posted by Brucelee

As the resident libertarian, I am all for small small government. You can understand why I think the Feds meddling in car purchases is not such a good idea.

But, hey, I could be wrong!

+ 1
The government has just screwed up the whole free market car system. Ask any economist and just about all will agree. Adam Smith's Invisible hand theory states that

"[An individual is] led by an invisible hand to promote an end which was no part of his intention. Nor is it always the worse for the society that it was not part of it. By pursuing his own interest he frequently promotes that of the society more effectually than when he really intends to promote it. I have never known much good done by those who affected to trade for the public good. It is an affectation, indeed, not very common among merchants, and very few words need be employed in dissuading them from it."

They(govt) has disrupted the used car market,
1.) Disenfranchised the poor by destroying their only hope of getting a car.
2.) With less inventory the prices of used cars will go up and become unaffordable.
3.) Robbed peter to pay paul, they haven't created new buyers, they just moved up their time frame of buying a new car.
4.) Put us closer to inflation, and possibly hyper inflation by spending useless taxpayer money.

This administration thinks its Robin hood. I hate to break it to you, you have the "right for the pursuit of happiness" You don't have the "right for happiness". That my friends, is earned not given. If you don't think its fair, then educate yourself, work harder and maybe your kids will have the opportunity for happiness. I know my Grandparents as most people's were dirt poor and worked 2 or 3 jobs each, just to get by and send my parents through college. That was called sacrafice!!