'Cash for Clunkers'

[Nivek]

Oh John, why do you hate America, we didn't make you pick that woman...

 

[Hobodeluxe]

looks like the program is successful to me. it's moving cars off the lots. putting money back into the system. keeping people in jobs. lowering our dependency on foreign oil a bit.

yeah I know we should be blowing something up somewhere with the money but sometimes you have to spend money at home. prime the pump a bit.
Ford stock went up 8% the other day. we're closing in on 10k on the Dow. if we can reach and sustain that I think some confidence could start returning.
What scares me is jobs. Lots of people will run out of unemployment benefits and not be able to find work.

 

[Matt]

y'know, I'd kind of like to see more research before we dump more money into Cash for Clunkers. This isn't the time to be burning tax dollars. Until we see some research which shows that there will be substantial enviromental improvement through this program, I'm not sure we should continue to support it.

 

[Matt]

looks like the program is successful to me. it's moving cars off the lots. putting money back into the system. keeping people in jobs. lowering our dependency on foreign oil a bit.

yeah I know we should be blowing something up somewhere with the money but sometimes you have to spend money at home. prime the pump a bit.
Ford stock went up 8% the other day. we're closing in on 10k on the Dow. if we can reach and sustain that I think some confidence could start returning.
What scares me is jobs. Lots of people will run out of unemployment benefits and not be able to find work.

We've given the auto industry enough bail outs, and this is a glorified bail out. If this program is to continue, I'd like to see research that suggests there will be substantial enviromental benefits from it.

 

[chaseter]

Welp, another failed attempt by our wonderful left controlled government. We are already trillions in debt and they are giving out more money! The government cannot even calculate how long money will last or predict how long the money will last by doing simple division by $4500 per car. And, some of you people want them to run healthcare? It was a good idea but a failed attempt. Nancy Pelosi only allowed 20 minutes for debate over the issue of adding 2 billion more because it didn't matter what anybody had to say, it was going to get passed. So, we have mob controlled government....wonderful

Overall, I agree with Matt. We need to do research, especially at a time like this, before we keep dumping more money into it. It could work, I thought it was a good idea but of course an unfair and failed attempt, but lets make sure it is working before we throw us futher into debt.

I remember someone on this board saying what a stupid idea this was and how it would fail and he was told he was nuts.........congrats Malice, you proved you know what you're talking about yet again

Malice is pretty smart.

 

[Malice]

I remember someone on this board saying what a stupid idea this was and how it would fail and he was told he was nuts.........congrats Malice, you proved you know what you're talking about yet again

Thanks Wiseman I appreciate your off-handed comment.

Look at it this way, they ran out of money because so many people wanted the free money. You say that is a success.

I don't. I find the pointless spending insane. 3 billion more of my dollars gone for what? The environment? stimulating the economy? for our car dealers? for the car manufacturers?

So you and I obviously have a different view of success.

This in my mind was done to with the guise of "saving the environment" to make the buyout of the car companies look better.

Again, to me....it was pointless spending...

 

[moraldeficiency]

Huge great success, most excellent policy choices.

While I agree this is temporary and this is a way of a bailout (it was part of the bailout after all) this is actually about as close to what the repubs want as a bailout (money going to the people). First off we've pumped up the car companies (short term for the moment but it does give them a boost when they're desperate for it), we made it easy for people to buy a major purchase in these cut back times, envirnmental impact? I'm gonna say a small one but a good idea to get people to upgrade, and finally people are going to save money on gas alone not to mention repairs. Win, win, win, win, win. This has been the most effective stimulus program and cost a fraction of any of the bailouts to individual car companies. It's a chance to get money and sell products but only by having better products, that's much more effective than just dumping money on a problem and expecting the idiots that drained their companies to use it effectively. This worked better than I could have expected.

 

[StorminNorman]

I don't. I find the pointless spending insane.

Pointless? You can argue that the government's spending isn't proper - but not that it's pointless. The Cash for Clunkers rebates have an indisputable point to them: to generate car sales, boosting car dealerships and car manufactors while at the sametime cutting American depedence on foreign oil (by having more efficient cars).

If the Stimulus money is going to be spent somewhere - it might as well be in a program like this.

 

[Superman]

Not at all.
I could buy the junker...get "esurance" and then take it in, in a matter of minutes.

There better be some serious limits on this or its going to be bad....like fema scandles

It's my understanding that you have to have had insurance on the car for at least a year before you can trade it in.

 

[Malice]

Pointless? You can argue that the government's spending isn't proper - but not that it's pointless. The Cash for Clunkers rebates have an indisputable point to them: to generate car sales, boosting car dealerships and car manufactors while at the sametime cutting American depedence on foreign oil (by having more efficient cars).

If the Stimulus money is going to be spent somewhere - it might as well be in a program like this.

OK...I will agree here...that is the closest thing this government has done to really provide some stimulus

 

[Marx]

SENATE PASSAGE OF 'CASH FOR CLUNKERS' NOW LIKELY
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/08/04/senate-passage-of-cash-for-clunkers-now-likely/

The Senate will okay new funding for the "cash for clunkers" program before leaving this week for the August recess, Senate leaders from each party predicted Tuesday, clearing the way for the surprisingly popular program to continue uninterrupted.

"We'll pass cash for clunkers….before we leave here," said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada.

"In the end, we know where the numbers are," acknowledged the third-ranking Senate Republican, Sen. John Thune of South Dakota, a critic of the program who said now he expects all Democrats and several Republicans to vote for additional funding.

 

[redfirebird2008]

y'know, I'd kind of like to see more research before we dump more money into Cash for Clunkers. This isn't the time to be burning tax dollars. Until we see some research which shows that there will be substantial enviromental improvement through this program, I'm not sure we should continue to support it.

Matt, I feel like this is more helpful to consumers than the auto industry. With the trillions that have been handed over to the banks and other big corporations, what is wrong with giving a few billion to the people who are actually footing the bill to bailout these corporations? Honestly, this is more along the lines of how the stimulus and bailouts SHOULD have been handled instead of just forking over $13 trillion to the banks for them to stash away and still not start loaning money to the people like they're supposed to. The $13 trillion that has gone out the door to the banks would have been better spent just cutting a check to every American adult.

 

[ChrisBaleBatman]

looks like the program is successful to me. it's moving cars off the lots. putting money back into the system. keeping people in jobs. lowering our dependency on foreign oil a bit.

And that...is why it must be killed.

 

[El_Citrus]

Ugh, I hate that mom's damn 96 Caravan is "one" mpg over the limit at 19. I say "one" because there's no way that POS gets 19 mpg's in it's current condition. Does anyone know if the dealers are finessing some of the qualifying details to help people get the government money? There's is absolutely no way the van currently gets 19 mpg's and is the definition of a clunker, but yet still doesn't "qualify".

 

[Heretic]

There is one major problem with giving this bail out to taxpayers...

We are giving ourselves money...so...just lower our taxes and let us keep our money.


Also, by signing up for this program, you are allowing the government to own your computer and spy on you, even using any files to prosecute you if they see fit. I wouldnt go near the website myself, even though theres nothing illegal on my computer...I tend to believe that America should be a free country where the government doesnt spy on you in your home.

 

[Heretic]

There is one major problem with giving this bail out to taxpayers...

We are giving ourselves money...so...just lower our taxes and let us keep our money.


Also, by signing up for this program, you are allowing the government to own your computer and spy on you, even using any files to prosecute you if they see fit. I wouldnt go near the website myself, even though theres nothing illegal on my computer...I tend to believe that America should be a free country where the government doesnt spy on you in your home.

 

[chaseter]

All of these incentives are aimed at the poor and lower middle class. The people that will be paying the highest taxes under the Dem control are more than likely driving nicer/bybrid cars already.

Lowering taxes is smart, but under the guise of Democratic ways and means, you tax people with money and give it to people without money.

As for the website and agreeing that the government owns whatever is on your computer...it is true and it is extremely stupid legislation.

 

[dnno1]

There is one major problem with giving this bail out to taxpayers...

We are giving ourselves money...so...just lower our taxes and let us keep our money.

If you did that it would result in a lower impact to the economy. By offering an incentive to buy a car you see a $30,000 impact per participant since he would have financed more than 80% of it through a bank. Just giving that person a tax break equivalent to $4500 would not guarantee that type of impact since the tax payer may just only buy that much in goods. The incentive increases demand not only for automobiles, but the raw materials used to make them, and hence means an increase in production and, ultimately job growth.

Also, by signing up for this program, you are allowing the government to own your computer and spy on you, even using any files to prosecute you if they see fit. I wouldnt go near the website myself, even though theres nothing illegal on my computer...I tend to believe that America should be a free country where the government doesnt spy on you in your home.

That is rediculous. It is not like the govenment couldn't do it already if they wanted to. Just keep your nose clean and there should be nothing to worry about.

 

[Heretic]

That is rediculous. It is not like the govenment couldn't do it already if they wanted to. Just keep your nose clean and there should be nothing to worry about.

Um...what is ridiculous about it? The website itself says that your computer becomes property of the government and they have the right to search your private files.

It isnt about keeping your nose clean, its about the government violating our constitutional rights.

But...as usual...excuses are made for the erosion of the constitution...because the government would never do us wrong.

 

[Marx]

It looks like 'Cash for Clunkers' will be getting an extension.

 

[Kelly]

Um...what is ridiculous about it? The website itself says that your computer becomes property of the government and they have the right to search your private files.

It isnt about keeping your nose clean, its about the government violating our constitutional rights.

But...as usual...excuses are made for the erosion of the constitution...because the government would never do us wrong.

Then don't research it on that site......kind of a duh. Go to your dealership and talk to them about it.

Geeeez, pretty easy to figure out.

 

[Kelly]

It looks like 'Cash for Clunkers' will be getting an extension.

Yep, looks like my sister will be able to trade in her gigantic Dodge Dakota for something smaller and better gas mileage. The problem is, she will now have a car note that she hasn't had for 9 years. She bought the SUV with cash, full out with our inheritance....she will now have a car note.

I wonder how many people, who see a new car in their hot little hands, and have the credit to do so......will find very soon that they have made a mistake.

My sister will be fine, but she's not looking forward to the payments.

 

[Marx]

It's still alot cheaper than buying it at full price. Good financing should really lower those payments.

 

[Kelly]

It's still alot cheaper than buying it at full price. Good financing should really lower those payments.

$200.00/ month is $200.00/ month you weren't paying before....along with full comprehensive insurance required on all new cars...which here in Houston could run you another $150.00 that you weren't paying before....

I think some are going to feel the pinch....and they aren't going to like it.

 

[bell110]

I hope most people aren't stupid enough to think they don't have to actually pay monthly for their new car.