Excellent Piece On Why C4c Is A Terrible Scheme

P71_CrownVic · August 3, 2009

Evidently we’re no longer satisfied merely to be wealthy and shortsighted enough to make, buy, and fuel unnecessarily big vehicles with unjustifiably thirsty engines; now we’re apparently so wealthy and shortsighted, we can afford to go on a (three-?) billion-dollar orgy of destroying and discarding functional machines before they’ve given all reasonably possible service. That’s just plain foolish—ask anyone who lived through the Great Depression.

Read more here. (not very long)

People can bash the government for the bank bail out.

Bash the government for the stimulus.

Bash the government for auto bail out.

Bash the govenment for trying to provide health coverage for all.

And

Bash the government for the Cash for Clunkers.

As an amateur car collector, I am usually against these plans to take good 'parts cars' off the road and crush them. Leaving antique and classic car collectors without access to good used parts.

I didn't read the bill. But I am guessing that these cars and trucks must be crushed. I wish they had put in provisions for the parts to be recycled - for the collector car people.

I am for this program. It's short term. It ran out of money quickly. They added more money. The bill has an end date.

This program got some new cars off the dealers lots. Good news for dealers. I do hope the dealers get paid quickly.

On a personal note, I know of one person who took advantage of this program. He is on Social Security. Worked his whole life. He paid for his kids college education. He's a smart guy. But not smart enought to put money aside in any 401K or whatever. He was self employed his entire adult life. He lives off Social Security. He is a Fox News addict. Rush Limbaugh listeners. And agrees with all the 'stuff' that these networks and people espouse. 'Welfare cheats' 'Illegal immigrant' 'Government giveaways, etc. Yet, he took his 2007 Toyota Corrola (still paying note) and his 1980 Dodge work truck and traded in for an economy car. He got the $4,500.00 off AFTER making the deal. He is happy.

So, I guess, this guy must be a complete hypocrite, eh?

P71_CrownVic · August 20, 2009

This program got some new cars off the dealers lots. Good news for dealers. I do hope the dealers get paid quickly.

Kinda...but not really. The automakers (Ford/GM) have recently announced that they are boosting production to meet demand. So those cars should hit the lots by the time the C4C scam runs out...leaving dealers woth a glut of cars that nobody wants to buy.

rogerf · August 20, 2009

This program got some new cars off the dealers lots. Good news for dealers. I do hope the dealers get paid quickly.

Kinda...but not really. The automakers (Ford/GM) have recently announced that they are boosting production to meet demand. So those cars should hit the lots by the time the C4C scam runs out...leaving dealers woth a glut of cars that nobody wants to buy.

The economic term for this is a "Bubble." At least it will be next years' models on the lots.

MarkD · August 21, 2009

I'll side with the guy in Unit731's post... I think the whole program is BS, a complete waste of money. However, since it is in existence, and all the money is going to be wasted anyway... If I was in a position to get an extra $4500 to trade my truck on a new diesel, I would do it in a heart beat!

jnpaddison · August 21, 2009

Politics aside of the issue , i dont understand why GM is increasing production of some of the smaller vehicle lines ,, to increase to what market ?? .. kinda like increasing production of Pumpkins in late October and then wonder why none are being sold in November .. they will have a glut again ... DOAH

( A Simpson's episode )

Nick The Great · August 21, 2009

Other than the fact that they completely SCREWED anybody who buys a 5 - 10 yr old car, it's ok

Someone like my dad, on the farm, buys a 5 yr old pickup every 10 years . . . well hopefully he can wait longer now, because the price of that type of vehicle went up hard!

Just wait a year when all these dipshits, who had no capacity to afford a new car, traded in their POS (paid off POS) on a nice new car. Wait until they find out they can't stomach the $500/month. Then we'll have to bail out the Goddamn Cash 4 Clunkers 'victims' because they weren't informed properly of their rights.

Some old men at church would always (jokingly?) say that what this country needed was another Depression and another World War. It would put people's priorities back in swing. I now wonder if they weren't really joking . . .

P71_CrownVic · August 21, 2009

kinda like increasing production of Pumpkins in late October and then wonder why none are being sold in November .. they will have a glut again ... DOH!
( A Simpson's episode )

What a fantastic analogy.