Anyone wanna guess

[bsrsharma]

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).

[alarmclock]

The entire cash for clunkers program seems like a very American (ca 1980-) way to achieve the various goals, so in that respect it was not the slightest bit surprising. Although I’m trying to emotionally detach from the decay in our way of life, when I heard what they were doing to disable the clunkers it definitely still stung.

[alarmclock]

The entire cash for clunkers program seems like a very American (ca 1980-) way to achieve the various goals, so in that respect it was not the slightest bit surprising. Although I’m trying to emotionally detach from the decay in our way of life, when I heard what they were doing to disable the clunkers it definitely still stung.

[alarmclock]

The entire cash for clunkers program seems like a very American (ca 1980-) way to achieve the various goals, so in that respect it was not the slightest bit surprising. Although I’m trying to emotionally detach from the decay in our way of life, when I heard what they were doing to disable the clunkers it definitely still stung.

[alarmclock]

The entire cash for clunkers program seems like a very American (ca 1980-) way to achieve the various goals, so in that respect it was not the slightest bit surprising. Although I’m trying to emotionally detach from the decay in our way of life, when I heard what they were doing to disable the clunkers it definitely still stung.

[alarmclock]

The entire cash for clunkers program seems like a very American (ca 1980-) way to achieve the various goals, so in that respect it was not the slightest bit surprising. Although I’m trying to emotionally detach from the decay in our way of life, when I heard what they were doing to disable the clunkers it definitely still stung.

[Coronita]

[quote=SD Realtor]It was not a perfectly good idea, it was perfectly stupid. It has nothing to do with incentivizing people to help the environment. Are you kidding me? It was an ill conceived idiotic idea. First off it is a subsidy for an already ailing auto industry that already had been pumped full of govt money. It also was a pathetic attempt to help people spend more money when people should be saving money rather then incur more debt. Finally it has done nothing but provide a strong bump in sales and clog the already overclogged landfills with many cars that were nowhere near ready to be destroyed.

I am amazed that this could be considered a great idea by anybody.

You really think this is a wise use of your tax dollars?[/quote]

Yup, we’re on the same page. Getting people already in financial trouble to spend even more money they don’t have. Oh well, at least the equity markets like it (for now)

[Coronita]

[quote=SD Realtor]It was not a perfectly good idea, it was perfectly stupid. It has nothing to do with incentivizing people to help the environment. Are you kidding me? It was an ill conceived idiotic idea. First off it is a subsidy for an already ailing auto industry that already had been pumped full of govt money. It also was a pathetic attempt to help people spend more money when people should be saving money rather then incur more debt. Finally it has done nothing but provide a strong bump in sales and clog the already overclogged landfills with many cars that were nowhere near ready to be destroyed.

I am amazed that this could be considered a great idea by anybody.

You really think this is a wise use of your tax dollars?[/quote]

Yup, we’re on the same page. Getting people already in financial trouble to spend even more money they don’t have. Oh well, at least the equity markets like it (for now)

[Coronita]

[quote=SD Realtor]It was not a perfectly good idea, it was perfectly stupid. It has nothing to do with incentivizing people to help the environment. Are you kidding me? It was an ill conceived idiotic idea. First off it is a subsidy for an already ailing auto industry that already had been pumped full of govt money. It also was a pathetic attempt to help people spend more money when people should be saving money rather then incur more debt. Finally it has done nothing but provide a strong bump in sales and clog the already overclogged landfills with many cars that were nowhere near ready to be destroyed.

I am amazed that this could be considered a great idea by anybody.

You really think this is a wise use of your tax dollars?[/quote]

Yup, we’re on the same page. Getting people already in financial trouble to spend even more money they don’t have. Oh well, at least the equity markets like it (for now)

[Coronita]

[quote=SD Realtor]It was not a perfectly good idea, it was perfectly stupid. It has nothing to do with incentivizing people to help the environment. Are you kidding me? It was an ill conceived idiotic idea. First off it is a subsidy for an already ailing auto industry that already had been pumped full of govt money. It also was a pathetic attempt to help people spend more money when people should be saving money rather then incur more debt. Finally it has done nothing but provide a strong bump in sales and clog the already overclogged landfills with many cars that were nowhere near ready to be destroyed.

I am amazed that this could be considered a great idea by anybody.

You really think this is a wise use of your tax dollars?[/quote]

Yup, we’re on the same page. Getting people already in financial trouble to spend even more money they don’t have. Oh well, at least the equity markets like it (for now)

[Coronita]

[quote=SD Realtor]It was not a perfectly good idea, it was perfectly stupid. It has nothing to do with incentivizing people to help the environment. Are you kidding me? It was an ill conceived idiotic idea. First off it is a subsidy for an already ailing auto industry that already had been pumped full of govt money. It also was a pathetic attempt to help people spend more money when people should be saving money rather then incur more debt. Finally it has done nothing but provide a strong bump in sales and clog the already overclogged landfills with many cars that were nowhere near ready to be destroyed.

I am amazed that this could be considered a great idea by anybody.

You really think this is a wise use of your tax dollars?[/quote]

Yup, we’re on the same page. Getting people already in financial trouble to spend even more money they don’t have. Oh well, at least the equity markets like it (for now)

[bsrsharma]

Getting people already in financial trouble to spend even more money they don’t have

Flu,

I think that comment borders on patronizing (car buyers). Firstly, statistics show most of the buyers have been middle class and better. Secondly, in this day and age, which idiot financier will advance a dodgy loan on a fast depreciating asset? I think most of the buyers are pretty good credit risks. This is a generally good program except for the politically inspired “gerrimandering” of allowing low MPG trucks for purchase. Also, the scrappage could have been done better – for example by offering to exchange the trade in vehicles, when feasible, (for free) with really old & polluting vehicles (like the pre 1990s for example) or donating to Mexico and destroying like number of Mexican clunkers (many without any emission controls and some still using leaded gas).

On the whole, a better program than the completely dysfunctional “foreclosure prevention” crap and other stimulus boondoggle (like wire transferring funds from treasury to Goldman via AIG, almost like in a third world tinpot dictatorship).

[bsrsharma]

Getting people already in financial trouble to spend even more money they don’t have

Flu,

I think that comment borders on patronizing (car buyers). Firstly, statistics show most of the buyers have been middle class and better. Secondly, in this day and age, which idiot financier will advance a dodgy loan on a fast depreciating asset? I think most of the buyers are pretty good credit risks. This is a generally good program except for the politically inspired “gerrimandering” of allowing low MPG trucks for purchase. Also, the scrappage could have been done better – for example by offering to exchange the trade in vehicles, when feasible, (for free) with really old & polluting vehicles (like the pre 1990s for example) or donating to Mexico and destroying like number of Mexican clunkers (many without any emission controls and some still using leaded gas).

On the whole, a better program than the completely dysfunctional “foreclosure prevention” crap and other stimulus boondoggle (like wire transferring funds from treasury to Goldman via AIG, almost like in a third world tinpot dictatorship).

[bsrsharma]

Getting people already in financial trouble to spend even more money they don’t have

Flu,

I think that comment borders on patronizing (car buyers). Firstly, statistics show most of the buyers have been middle class and better. Secondly, in this day and age, which idiot financier will advance a dodgy loan on a fast depreciating asset? I think most of the buyers are pretty good credit risks. This is a generally good program except for the politically inspired “gerrimandering” of allowing low MPG trucks for purchase. Also, the scrappage could have been done better – for example by offering to exchange the trade in vehicles, when feasible, (for free) with really old & polluting vehicles (like the pre 1990s for example) or donating to Mexico and destroying like number of Mexican clunkers (many without any emission controls and some still using leaded gas).

On the whole, a better program than the completely dysfunctional “foreclosure prevention” crap and other stimulus boondoggle (like wire transferring funds from treasury to Goldman via AIG, almost like in a third world tinpot dictatorship).

[bsrsharma]

Getting people already in financial trouble to spend even more money they don’t have

Flu,

I think that comment borders on patronizing (car buyers). Firstly, statistics show most of the buyers have been middle class and better. Secondly, in this day and age, which idiot financier will advance a dodgy loan on a fast depreciating asset? I think most of the buyers are pretty good credit risks. This is a generally good program except for the politically inspired “gerrimandering” of allowing low MPG trucks for purchase. Also, the scrappage could have been done better – for example by offering to exchange the trade in vehicles, when feasible, (for free) with really old & polluting vehicles (like the pre 1990s for example) or donating to Mexico and destroying like number of Mexican clunkers (many without any emission controls and some still using leaded gas).

On the whole, a better program than the completely dysfunctional “foreclosure prevention” crap and other stimulus boondoggle (like wire transferring funds from treasury to Goldman via AIG, almost like in a third world tinpot dictatorship).

[Author]

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