Auto Dealers: Cash for Clunkers a Needed Boost

Reader Comments
Back to article

Great news flash. The auto dealers and the people that bought cars think "Cash for Clunkers" is a great program. That's a news scoop.
As a usual the small minority benefit from a foolish gov't program and the vast majority pay for it and the small minority can only say "it't too bad the inventories were low" or "our payments were slow in getting to us". Gee, maybe you should've been able to take the money out of my savings account like a debit card.

Jim Meath of AZ 5:22PM August 27, 2009

The benefits of this program far out-weigh any perceived detriments the critics can muster.
- Reduce dependence on foreign oil
- Supports a critical US industry from collapse
- Keeps people working rather than standing in unemployment line.
- Gave a shot in the arm to the U.S. economy.

BillInStl of MO 2:10PM August 24, 2009

Cash for clunkers good program for dealers and consumers maybe. Where did the money come from? China. Who is paying the interest? And as always the American public covers the cost. What about the increased governmental cost, equipment, personnel and etc. How much is all of this costing? I know ask that ditz Senator Stabenow she may have an idea since she was push for the other 2 billion extension, what kind of Senator would vote for a bill with out reading it, well perhaps reading and understanding are 2 different things. Well Ms Stabenow how much has this fiasco cost the American people. Could we have an answer.

spudder of FL 7:02AM August 24, 2009

What Auto dealers? The foreign ones? They are the ones flooding markets here at the price of domestic JOBS. All profits to foreign companies and countries. Gotta be good for America!!! Dahh

Lee Hansen of MI 4:27PM August 22, 2009

When is Japan, Germany, Sweden etc. etc. going to stop taking advantage of the domestic manufactures and offer the same program in their country in stead of DUMPING their junk over here! I just saw a new Chevrolet Impala and it is more stylish then any the foreign junk coming over here! It also bests all the foreigners for gas mileage. I know, if your an up and coming mover AND SHAKER you automatically have to drive a foreign car even if they sell you the crate the car was shipped in instead of the car as long as it had a foreign label slapped on it. I only hope the stimulus checks that go to the foreign car companies help them to liquidate your job when they decide to pull he plug on this country. You don,t have to have an M>B>A> to realize that the countries are in competition for manufacturing jobs and profits and they don,t play fair in the Fair Trade Agreement! They keep devaluing their currencies so CHUMPS like you go for the price and and get the big DEAL of the century and stupidly ship your job overseas. That's big thinking.When the foreigners build all the cars in this country you will see the price take go through the roof! Remember televisions were invented in this country and then the Japs copied and flooded our market and drove our manufacturers out of business! Now the Japs are screaming because China is stealing their markets! When we are in a depression and we have to buy a car made in China because we have no jobs it will be to late. Made in America by an American company by Americans means something to some of us.Why would you mail to stimulus check to a foreign company so their company and country will profit? America, Home the the brave ,land oF the UNEMPLOYED!!! Remember, Mithubishi built the plane that bombed Pearl Harbor the Jap ZERO1

Lee Hansen of MI 4:20PM August 22, 2009

I really think this program saved the auto industry in America. I can't afford a new car so I take care of mine and I now have over 200,000 miles on my car(still running great). You should follow these tips I found.
http://www.ehow.com/how_5318720_out-car.html

Billy of PA 4:06PM August 21, 2009

I anticipate buying a used car in the next year or so. I do not expect to be able to buy a new car soon, due to currently low income and problems with my credit history. Because of the "clunkers" program, I anticipate paying *more* for a used car than if there had been no such program, since "demand" for used cars was artificially inflated by this program, and supply has now been reduced. People who had higher incomes and better credit may have benefited, but not me. (As for ecological considerations, consider that more new cars are being manufactured because of this program, which obviously affects the environment.)
My point is not to complain, but to point out the Law of Unintended Consequences, and the folly of looking to the government to "correct" market conditions. The government should be limited to prosecuting people for fraud and other outright crimes. We should all despise its encroachments into other areas of life and commerce.

J.A. of CA 2:03PM August 21, 2009