Cash For Clunkers Idiocy
I guess I'm not the only one who thinks this smelled rotten. It just seems that anything that has to do with the federal government, after decades of getting beaten up by rethugs who insisted the nation's governance was the problem and privatization was the way to go, stinks.
I have a couple of older vehicles that run just fine because I took care of them. Staying on top of maintenance means huge savings in the long run, you're familiar with the unit and you know what you've got, and more than likely you own the damn thing outright and you don't have to make payments on it.
So what do you know, here's a guy in the know who wrote into Urban Survival with some real insight into this boondoggle. The more I think about it the more I think it was a just another scheme dreamed up to slap an ineffective bandaid on the hemorrhage, trying to delay the inevitable disastrous crash:
"I am the manager for ****** ***** leasing in *******, Arizona. This provides a very unique insight into the current economic morass we are in. Facilities are shared with the parent company, the local Chrysler/**** dealership. This too gives me a front row seat for these fascinating times. My anger over this cash for clunkers program coupled with a frustration about how blindly people buy into these programs was the catalyst for (my) impetuous call this morning.
To date an overwhelming percentage of the people taking advantage of this program have traded vehicles that were free of encumbrances. Now they are in bondage, trapped into making payments during a time of great economic uncertainty. A number of the vehicles being traded in are in amazing condition. So, through this program we now eliminate a large segment of the used car market, vehicles that could be sold in the $3,000 to $6,000 range to those on tighter budgets.
The destruction of these vehicles will eliminate a huge resource pool of used parts to keep older vehicles on the road in a cost effective manner. The second reason this really lights my fuse is waste on this magnitude is truly immoral and irresponsible. I will forward photos tomorrow of some of the vehicles we will be destroying and I will also post them on my blog, www.route66chronicles.blogspot.com. The blog generally leans toward the light hearted side of life but as an automotive historian with a lengthy resume of published work and as associate editor with Cars & Parts magazine I feel a responsibility to say something about this insanity.
Next is the simple fact we are merely sopping up some of the excess inventory of automobile manufacturers and doing little or nothing to stimulate responsible production.
Even worse we are placing dealerships in a position where there will be few potential customers in the months ahead. Then there is the environmental charade. Which cause more "pollution"? Driving a well maintained 1973 Olds responsibly (bicycling to work most days, renting a fuel efficient vehicle for long distance trips, and using the Olds for limited transportation) or destroying it to produce a new car?"
From his website, here are a couple of the so called beaters being traded in, destined to be crushed and melted:
Along with this latest scam I'm reminded of the classic american cars in Cuba. After the revolution in 1959 all trade with the US halted and the Cubans became ultra ingenious in keeping those old cars running for decades. Now about 60,000 of those vehicles exist and are a source of pride in the peoples' inventiveness and tenacity.
I have a couple of older vehicles that run just fine because I took care of them. Staying on top of maintenance means huge savings in the long run, you're familiar with the unit and you know what you've got, and more than likely you own the damn thing outright and you don't have to make payments on it.
So what do you know, here's a guy in the know who wrote into Urban Survival with some real insight into this boondoggle. The more I think about it the more I think it was a just another scheme dreamed up to slap an ineffective bandaid on the hemorrhage, trying to delay the inevitable disastrous crash:
"I am the manager for ****** ***** leasing in *******, Arizona. This provides a very unique insight into the current economic morass we are in. Facilities are shared with the parent company, the local Chrysler/**** dealership. This too gives me a front row seat for these fascinating times. My anger over this cash for clunkers program coupled with a frustration about how blindly people buy into these programs was the catalyst for (my) impetuous call this morning.
To date an overwhelming percentage of the people taking advantage of this program have traded vehicles that were free of encumbrances. Now they are in bondage, trapped into making payments during a time of great economic uncertainty. A number of the vehicles being traded in are in amazing condition. So, through this program we now eliminate a large segment of the used car market, vehicles that could be sold in the $3,000 to $6,000 range to those on tighter budgets.
The destruction of these vehicles will eliminate a huge resource pool of used parts to keep older vehicles on the road in a cost effective manner. The second reason this really lights my fuse is waste on this magnitude is truly immoral and irresponsible. I will forward photos tomorrow of some of the vehicles we will be destroying and I will also post them on my blog, www.route66chronicles.blogspot.com. The blog generally leans toward the light hearted side of life but as an automotive historian with a lengthy resume of published work and as associate editor with Cars & Parts magazine I feel a responsibility to say something about this insanity.
Next is the simple fact we are merely sopping up some of the excess inventory of automobile manufacturers and doing little or nothing to stimulate responsible production.
Even worse we are placing dealerships in a position where there will be few potential customers in the months ahead. Then there is the environmental charade. Which cause more "pollution"? Driving a well maintained 1973 Olds responsibly (bicycling to work most days, renting a fuel efficient vehicle for long distance trips, and using the Olds for limited transportation) or destroying it to produce a new car?"
From his website, here are a couple of the so called beaters being traded in, destined to be crushed and melted:
Along with this latest scam I'm reminded of the classic american cars in Cuba. After the revolution in 1959 all trade with the US halted and the Cubans became ultra ingenious in keeping those old cars running for decades. Now about 60,000 of those vehicles exist and are a source of pride in the peoples' inventiveness and tenacity.
posted by nolocontendere at 6:11 AM
3 Comments:
I smelled stench upon hearing of this program. What an insane time to be encouraging people to take out a loan and create more debt. I wasn't aware the dealerships were required to destroy the vehicles. This just adds more stench. Utter waste. What is the point of that?? The dealerships aren't allowed to turn around and sell them?? INSANE.
And yes, of course this is a temporary band-aid to an ever-crumbling way of life. Oh but the MSM says we're showing signs of recovery. I laughed the other day when I heard one of the puppets say "this will be a jobless recovery". How an earth anyone can believe you can have an economic recovery w/o job growth is beyond my comprehension. And how on earth anyone worth their salt can say those words w/o showing some sign of "wtf did i just say???"...
I mean truly. The insane stupidity has reached new heights that are surprising to me at times. And yet there are still many who balk at those like me who try and inform the masses to avoid vaccinations...calling me the stupid one.
Uh huh.
Jobless Recovery.
Hahaaa
Yes, the more one looks at this scam the more it's apparently a desperate attempt to forestall total collapse, at least of the auto industry. Everything about it is shit.
Two more points. A large percentage of the new vehicles will be driven into the ground by people who have no intention whatsoever in paying this sweet deal off. And in a conspiratorial sense, the older cars on the road can resist EMPs and don't have the kill switch that are embedded in the new models and can be activated remotely by you know who.
Compounding the immoral lunacy of this boondoggle is the cost to the taxpayer - $10,000 plus per vehicle.
In a nut shell it is about debt. Every aspect of this economy is based on debt and if enough people are debt free the merry-go-round grinds to a halt.
This morning I posted a new cash for clunker photo on the blog. It seems symbolic of the whole nation. You can replace the truck in the dumpster with the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, common sense, thrift, self reliance, personal responsibility, etc.
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