Obama, lawmakers agree on "cash-for-clunkers" bill [Your cash, Their clunker]

Reuters ^ | May 5, 2009 | Sandra Maler

[Oldeconomybuyer]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama and Democratic lawmakers reached agreement on Tuesday on proposed "cash-for-clunkers" legislation as part of a broader effort to fight climate change, lawmakers said.

Rep. John Dingell, a Michigan Democrat and other lawmakers from automaking states want the climate change bill to include a provision encouraging owners of less fuel-efficient cars to trade them in for cars that use less gasoline.

[FromLori]

Because we now live in a Facist state...

http://bluelori.blogspot.com/2009/05/foxs-willard-we-are-now-in-facist-state.html

[Nachum]

You are on. :)

[Southside_Chicago_Republican]

That, my friend, show wind up in one of those books of famous quotes.

[gigster]

This scenario reminds me of the song “Red Barchetta”,
by Rush.

The Enviro-Fascists are out to destroy every vestige of American culture, pre-Obama.

I’m getting my 1964 Plymouth Fury (w/push-button transmission) on the road this summer.
They will have to pry my (dead) hands off of the steering wheel before I knuckle under to their demands.

[Made In The USA]

If the alleged driver of this is saving mutha-earf... I’d echo an argument made in Car Craft magazine that it is likely more environmentally responsible to fix up your old clunker.

How much carbon footprint goes into manufacturing a new car vs. fixing up what you have? Of course, my brain is wired to have the fix up involve 400+ horsepower!

[Right Wing Assault]

Here's mine.

[CarWashMan]

A “salesman” won’t have anything to do with the transaction. Is there such a thing as a “demandman”?

[gigster]

Good one, Crawdad.

[FromLori]

Thanks that old age you know :}

[pepperdog]

And who is going to loan them the money to buy the new car? Oh, I forgot, the banks will be forced to loan to them just like the housing mess...and we’ll get to pay again. Where did our leaders get their economics training? Or did they get any?

[Venturer]

I can see the old Caddilacs being pulled out of Ghetto yards now.

[Gritty]

[pepsionice]

Here’s the deal. They did the same trick in Germany...a vehicle 9 years old or older, that you’ve owned for minimum of twelve months....you got $3250 to crush it (nothing less than a crush is acceptable). Each person gets one chance to do this. So a husband and wife can do this. The catch is that the new car has to be German-made.

So now we turn and look at this possible US deal. Here’s the big problem. As much as Ford, GM and Chrysler really want this deal to occur...what about other companies...like Honda, who makes a car in the US? If you open up the floodgates....over half the people will run to Toyota, Hyundai or Honda....which doesn’t help the big-three. I’m guessing that there serious legal implications if they try to limit this to Ford, GM or Chrysler.

But here are the other issues. We have a used part industry which really needs to use the option of reeping parts off the old cars. The rule will be a crushing and likely nothing less than that.

I will make this comment as well...in recent days in Germany...several statistics folks went out and found that 90 percent of the folks who did the junker deal...were going to buy a new car anyway. So this only changed the minds of ten percent of the folks. Another issue is that almost everyone in Germany has bought what they want...so from June on...for the rest of the year....I expect almost no sales....so this will go real flat shortly.

[AEMILIUS PAULUS]

Now that “The Divine One” and his apostles control the automobile industry the fun begins.

[JohnBrowdie]

how far away can we be from a tax increase levied on those who do own "clunkers"? And who is to say where "clunkerism" starts? and who doesn't believe that this will wind up as a tax on anyone that doesn't own a "government approved" vehicle?

we're right around the corner from being forced to buy whatever nancy pelosi thinks is best for us.

[idkfa]

A brilliant red barchetta, from a better, vanished time
I fire up the willing engine, responding with a roar
Tires spitting gravel, I commit my weekly crime...

[jimt]

Anathema to hot rodders.

Dingell is just wanting full employment for the UAW. If this passes my next car will be from a non-union company - and I currently own a Chrysler and a Lincoln.

[Lx]

Sigh... I had one that was blue and in perfect shape. Great car to drive but really lousy build. There weren’t any bars in the doors so if you got t-boned you were doomed. Both the front and rear bumpers were incredibly flimsy but still. it was an awesome car. I’m looking for another ‘69 but I need A/C!!!!!

[calex59]

I have a 1982 Triumph(I know, I know, but it is a great car)TR7 that gets 37 MPH and still runs great, of course it only has 12,000 miles on it but still, I am not trading it in for a newer car that gets lower mileage and won’t be near as much fun to drive!

[calex59]

Next it will be put your gun in the trunk and turn it in together.

No, no, you will be able to trade your gun in(forced actually)for a brand new electronic model that only works for your personal touch, and it will quit working for you 5 minutes after you buy it and then never work again!