Did we just subsidize the auto industry and not do jack shit for our energy dependence? All because we are so happy to show the Party of No a program works and the Dems do know how to stimulate an econmy? It seems to me that getting $3500 to trade in a car and get a 4 mpg increase is a bunch of bullshit and $4500 to get 10mpg more is elephant shit. Now that I have a long commute to work I get to listen to more NPR and they made an interesting point about how the Auto Industry was able to get there mitts on the bill and strip out the original intent. Reducing the increase limit to get the cash and the type of cars you had to buy.
Geeeeeeeee, what a shocker, the lobbyists win again and so does big oil and we lose. Long term nothing changes yet again. woopdeeedo, we go from cars that get 15 to 25mpg….wow. Amazing. What an improvement. Woho. What a joke. I’m pretty sure cars were getting better MPG 15 years ago.
I guess I’m the sober guy at the strip club pointing out the fake breasts and the cellulite. Call me the party pooper, the wet blanket, the nattering nabob of bullshitivity. Whatever, I could care less.
We had a real chance to subsidize cars that get great gas mileage. We had a chance to push customers into buying cars that really get good mileage and change behavior. But alas, now gas prices can go up and the money people are “saving” with a more fuel efficient car will be negated as they will no doubt drive more miles (proven to happen with greater efficiency) and with demand increasing as the economy comes back gas prices will no doubt increase. Kick the can down the road. Hooray, Saudi Arabia is saved!!!! Hizzah! Allah Akbar!
I’m sorry, didn’t we already bailed out the auto industry once. All we did here was give them a $3500 coupon courtesy of my tax dollars. I’d rather we do it the George Bush way and I get the money and pay off my credit card and leaving a little to buy that case of beer I had my eye on as I passed them to my 30 pack of Natty light.
All this gimmick did was keep the Auto Giants from having to lower their inflated prices and keep propped up used car prices so when the cars are driven off the lot the car you are driving isn’t worth 20% less what you paid…it’s now worth 35 to 40%.
Cash for Clunkers couldn’t me be more appropriate.