As it is being done, it is a poor plan; especially with the loophole allowing one to buy low MPG trucks. But done the way EconProf suggested, it would have done a lot of good. U.S. drivers get to buy newer cars, U.S. workers get jobs, pollution is reduced, a lot of goodwill is generated abroad. What government program comes anywhere half as good? Much of postwar (1945) government expenditure has been on creating and fighting imaginary enemies (and transfer payments).