Cash for Waste
I've been silently fuming over the Cash for Clunkers program since it went live last week. According to the rules, the program contributes a $3500 or $4500 credit towards the trade-in of an inefficient "clunker" (defined as a vehicle < 25 years old that gets < 18mpg) for the purchase of a new "fuel efficient" vehicle. The rules define "fuel efficient vehicle" as a "passenger automobile" that gets at least 22mpg or a category 1 truck that gets at least...wait for it...yup, 18mpg.
Really? Really? That's the best you could do, government, a 0-4mpg improvement?!? Way to waste a 3 BILLION dollar opportunity to actually do something substantial to reduce carbon emissions. And don't tell me that this is about "bailing out Detroit" because GM (8 trucks/SUVs, 2 cars), Chrysler (1 SUV), and Ford (1 SUV, 1 car) all sell hybrid vehicles.
Fuck you, Uncle Sam. What a waste of resources.
This dude said it better. By destroying working cars the program will probably lead to an increase in the net consumption of fossil fuels. And giving a credit to people who could already afford to drop $10K+ on a new car means that you're helping the middle+ classes, not the struggling poor. And for what? To keep an incompetent, failing industry afloat. As John Stossel is so fond of saying, give me a break.
Really? Really? That's the best you could do, government, a 0-4mpg improvement?!? Way to waste a 3 BILLION dollar opportunity to actually do something substantial to reduce carbon emissions. And don't tell me that this is about "bailing out Detroit" because GM (8 trucks/SUVs, 2 cars), Chrysler (1 SUV), and Ford (1 SUV, 1 car) all sell hybrid vehicles.
Fuck you, Uncle Sam. What a waste of resources.
This dude said it better. By destroying working cars the program will probably lead to an increase in the net consumption of fossil fuels. And giving a credit to people who could already afford to drop $10K+ on a new car means that you're helping the middle+ classes, not the struggling poor. And for what? To keep an incompetent, failing industry afloat. As John Stossel is so fond of saying, give me a break.