Political Lipskip

Cash for Clunkers is Stupid

I have to comment on Cash for Clunkers. I know you’ve heard what a resounding “success” the program has been. I simply ask, really? And how is that? It’ s welfare for those that can afford a new car.

This is one billion dollars that we are going to have to pay for. Or our kids. Or theirs. Why stop with cars? Let’s trade in our refrigerators. Our dryers. Need a new roof? Why not? Oh right, there aren’t any unions in those industries that need to be bought off. I am sick of bailing out and coddling the auto industry.

I’m particularly peeved that the government has decided to reward failure once again. I’ve never owned a car that wasn’t a 4 cylinder until a couple of years ago when we bought a 6 cylinder van. Used. It already gets great mileage. But is the government going to reward me in some way for doing the right thing? No. They are going to take money from me and my family and give it to someone so they will be incentivized to doing what the government thinks is the right thing. What the hell?

And why are you buying a new car anyway? The best deal is buy a year or two old car that has depreciate $10K. Let some other dumbass take the depreciation hit. Fuel efficiency hasn’t improved that much over the last 5 years. New car $23K with $4K in government welfare or a used car that is now worth $13K. Which makes more sense? I’ve personally never owned a new car nor would I ever buy new so I know what the better deal is. And yea, I’ve driven my first Toyota over 200K and my Honda over 300K. My current Toyota has over 250K. So why is buying a new car that important when I can buy used from someone that only put on 50-70K miles and the price is down 10K?

I guess there is no recession. Happy motoring is alive and well. The Cash for Clunker program already blew through $1B. Now they are looking to pass another $2B. This is yet another unsustainable government program that we will eventually have to pay for. I come to work everyday so someone else can get money from the government (me) to buy a new car. Really? What the hell is wrong with these people in Washington? And people in this country are going into more debt so they can have a new car that they think they are getting a good deal on. Have we learned nothing in the last year? Apparently not.

Yet more bailout and more wasteful government spending that will eventually have to be paid for. Get ready because you and your kids will eventually be paying for all these corporate goodies.

Elections have consequences. How about we vote responsibly next time?