• Alyss said on Aug 06, 2009....

  I feel your pain. 

• ALIENated said on Aug 07, 2009....

  Welcome to the wonderful world of socialism. But, you know what? I think a big part of a vibrant economy is psychological. I am pretty sure that is true about the stock market. I also think we are in a time where computers and technology are making a mess of the job market. People like Bill Gates are making shameful amounts of money (according to Democrats, which he probably supports) by developing computer software that will most likely put people out of work. One person with a PC and the right software can do what 10 or 20 people used to do. Computerized machines can do what 10 or 20 people used to do. So you have all these people that have nothing to do and a smaller percent that make shameful amounts of money because they know the technology. "Cash for Clunkers" is something about the stimulus bill that is actually working, something we can actually see. I would rather my tax dollars go to something like that than people filling potholes, which should be the responsibility of each city or state. And it could actually benefit the rest of us if it reduces our demand for oil, which would lower gasoline prices. Also, if it gets some of those smoke bombs off the road, that will be a good thing. Have you ever driven behind one of those cars that looks like they are fogging to kill insects? Of course, on the other hand, it is similiar to the thinking that got us in this mess to start with (letting people buy a house they cannot afford). We may be fixing people up with cars they cannot afford. That I would not like. Hopefully, people have to qualify for the loans they are getting to pay for the car. I would almost bet that it will bite us in the ass somehow. These "something for nothing" deals usually do. I bet some smart used car dealer figures out a way to get druggies to trade in his old clunkers so he can sell the new cars at a reduced price.

• curmudgeon said on Aug 07, 2009....

  Alien - I am sure this program could yield all kinds of "benefits" for society, but is it the business of government to promote social good? If so, clearly a case for a government health insurance program that will take care of millions of people can be made.
  
  As far as I can see, the Constitution is not about government providing this or that "social good" for the American People, it is about getting government out of the way to allow people to pursue what THEY - not some government bureaucrat - define as "good."
  
  I am still pissed off that I get to pay 4500 bucks to people who chose to buy those carbon-foggers when I bought a better car than they are buying now four years ago - and I get not one stitch of credit for it or financial benefit from it.
  

• ALIENated said on Aug 07, 2009....

  Are you saying Democrat policies are bad? They should not be paying off the people that voted for them? Yeah, it chaps me, too. I guess my point is, at least common folk are getting some good out of this stimulus money as opposed to most of it going to ACORN, labor unions, etc. Believe me, when Democrats are in charge, the definition of what government should be doing goes straight down the crapper. The Democrat party promotes the nanny state, which is loved by their deatbeat, something-for-nothing supporters. Most of them are just jealous of the ingenuity of people like Bill Gates. They would rather sponge off the government than make their own way. I would be happier if they used the money to train people to make their own way, or something like that. No giveaway program is fair, and that is why socialism is not fair. Jesus had a parable about a guy that was haired to work all day and other guys that were hired at various hours of the day. Yet they were all paid the same amount. He was making a spiritual point, but he used an example that any sane person would think is unfair. Even He knew that men should be paid consistently and fairly for the hours they work. If one person works and pays taxes and another person works half as much and pays half (or even less than half) as much tax, and they receive the same amount of (rationed) benefits, how long before the harder working guy stops working as hard? The welfare program pretty well proved all that.

• curmudgeon said on Aug 07, 2009....

  Yeah - it is probably easier to understand the parable of the Kingdom of God - meaning that God loves us and accepts us all however late in the game we may come to God and do the work of God. It may seem unfair to those who have labored for God all their lives, but for the person who has made "unGodly" choices all his life, to know that it is never too late to reach for salvation that level of acceptance and forgiveness is priceless.
  
  I suppose one could make the argument that this ought to be the case for clunker-drivers - how many might not be able to afford the new higher mileage car if not for this program? Ought those of us who made such choices earlier welcome those who had not into the fold, and help them to make such choices by providing some resources?
  
  And you are right in that a great many average folk stand to benefit - from the purchasers to the dealers and salespeople. The Wall Street Journal pointed out that auto mechanics may not do so well with all these new cars because junkers of course need far more maintenance and repair. Ditto for vintage spare parts manufacturers and retailers and junkyards, I suppose. The other question is whether the two billion bucks more we are about to spend (Obama just signed this into law) will have a long-term effect on the auto industry. Most likely not. Unless stricter mileage standards are imposed, the program may very well run out of cash in eight days instead of four.
  
  There are positive and negative outcomes for every action. One other negative is that the folks who get the 4500 bucks really do not get it for free - they will pay for it out of their taxes this year and next and next ad infinitum.
  

• ALIENated said on Aug 07, 2009....

  That mechanic deal may or may not be true. The last time a bought a car made in Detroit was the mid 1970s. It literally fell apart. I have not owned an American-made car since. These new cars will fall apart soon enough. I assume the cash for clunkers applies only to American made cars. I heard that charitable outfits that take donations of old cars is almost out of business because of this as well.

• curmudgeon said on Aug 11, 2009....

  Actually there is no "buy American" clause in this thing. One of the most popular models is the Toyota Corolla. See what a great nation we are - stimulating the Japanese economy as well as our own!

• ALIENated said on Aug 12, 2009....

  Well, that figures. However, I do not think the Cash for Clunkers program is meant to stimulate the economy. It is meant to get old gas guzzlers off the road. To do that, you probably would have to by a foreign car.

Comment on "Congratulations! You Just Bought Your Neighbor a New (Green) Car!!!"

Currently tagged	politics hypocrisy environment (Click to add tags below)
Tag this post	(Separate tags using commas, for example: New York, dating, vegetarian)
Your comment