Posted on 08/16/2009 10:36:40 AM PDT by Republic11
Cash Bribes for Clunkers Alexis de Tocqueville said, "The American republic will endure until the day Congress discovers that it can bribe the public with the public's own money." The U.S. Congress is unconstitutionally bribing the American people with $4,500 to buy cars in the "Cash for Clunkers" program. Many struggling families can't afford new cars and rely on the purchases of used vehicles. Hundreds of thousands of cars are being traded in and destroyed, not resold. This takes thousands of used cars off the market, driving prices upward. In turn, this dries up the supply of used parts thus inflating the parts market. This program is bribing families to trade in their car that is likely paid for and go into debt. Isn't this similar to the programs Congress, Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae designed that led to the housing crisis? This program is extremely wasteful because, instead of keeping existing cars running, it promotes making a huge carbon footprint with a large energy output to produce new vehicles. Also, the program will let you scrap your 8,000-pound 18 mpg vehicle and give you cash to get a new 8,000-pound vehicle as long as it gets 4 mpg more. As the politicians, unions, ACORN and the media loudly applaud this program, it is reminiscent of a scene from Star Wars Episode III when Queen Amidala, while listening to the Senate, somberly stated, "So this is how liberty dies, with thunderous applause
Of course leftist style economics reflects the insanities of their hearts and minds. Termites rule over us!
It's time we reclaim our nation from these fools----- Restore the Republic.
It was so very tempting to participate in this “program.”
That is, until the values instilled by my parents kicked in. I have no right to take money from my fellow taxpayers to subsidize my purchase of anything. It’s morally wrong. It’s also almost criminal (as a car lover) to know that very good cars will be essentially executed as part of this program.
I was at a dealership yesterday shopping for a new vehicle that does not qualify under the Money Redistribution Plan(tm). As the salesman and I rounded the corner to test drive the American-made gas-guzzling SUV I was proudly checking out, we saw a field full of cars traded in under the clunker program. He told me there were 108 cars there, most of which were turned in for the $4500 amount. He asked me how many I thought they’d been paid for so far. I shocked by saying none. He then shared that 7 of the 10 “clunker” deals he’d been involved in had cars that were fully serviceable and in excellent condition.
This thing is wrong on so many levels.
- redistribution of wealth
- removal of affordable used cars for low-income people
- and it’s a great preview of what we can expect under ObamaCare(tm)
Blowing up the engines on perfectly good automobiles is a sinful waste. Not to mention the pollutants spewed into the atmosphere when they do it.
Does anybody really think any car dealer is going to destroy a used car with a book value of more than the “cash for clunkers” offer from the government? If some dunce trades in a car worth $10,000, the dealer will give him $4500, tell the chump what a great deal he got and drag the car to the next auction. And no “rules” are going to stop him.
Most of these cars have a book value of less than $4,500...which is the whole reason people jumped at the chance to trade them in (most people know what their car is worth - just look it up). And, yes, I believe the dealers will destroy them.
BUT...these are perfectly good cars. Look on youtube, and watch the destruction. It is completely contrary to the idea of recycling to destroy rather than salvage. If all 3 billion is used, 3/4 of a million used cars, with their engines, door panels, visors, whatever could be re-used...is gone....completely insane. Its bad enough they are giving away free money; but, the destruction is just stupid.
Is this going to create another wave of sub-prime loan problems?
who got cash for clunkers cash???who did they pay and who did they refuse.....and on what basis.......
I agree that most of the “clunkers” have a book (trade-in) value of less than $4500, but most people are getting less than that, since the $4500 only applies to trading in a low-MPG car for a roller skate-type. I also agree that most of the “clunkers” will be destroyed, but my point is that the dealers will cherry-pick the valuable ones and sell them. It is stupid that thousands of usable cars will be destroyed, and even stupider that mountains of salvagable parts will be crushed, but that happens every day.
The only way I could ethically see participating in the program would be if:
Of course, I'm not really sure how one could be certain of #1; without that assumption, #2 and #3 don't matter.
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