Cash For Clunkers!

July 31, 2009

Have you heard about the great new government program called Cash For Clunkers? Passed by Congress in late June to help the flagging U.S. auto industry and launched just a week ago, the $1 billion program gives vouchers worth up to $4,500 to consumers who trade in gas-guzzling cars for more fuel-efficient models. Hey, hey, hey, another great government program. NOT!

The highly publicized effort was scheduled to run until Nov. 1, or until money ran out. Guess what? The rogram was suspended last night!

In a shocker, the government announced it would suspend the program at midnight because demand was too great. It may have been the best $1 billion the government has spent so far this year. Business was humming at Crestmont Toyota/Volkswagen Thursday night as salespeople rushed back to work on news that the government’s “Cash for Clunkers” program was being suspended. Too late!

And we want the government to run a national healthcare program?

Are you kidding me? How’s the government doing running Amtrak? How’s the government doing running the postal system? How does the government do running anything: seriously?

On Thursday night we learned the program was only good until midnight, all because of a backlog of red tape. So the salespeople were trying to get their deals through the government’s Web site. “People are loving it. It’s wonderful. It’s a great stimulus package,” salesman Andy Beloff said. But when asked if the government was running the program well, Beloff said, “No. No.” The dealership’s lot had roughly 40 clunkers waiting to be shipped to the junkyard. Each one has already been replaced by a brand new lower mileage car. The program only started last Friday.

Hello! Is anyone awake?

Written by Ernie · Filed Under Daily Commentary

Comments

One Response to “Cash For Clunkers!”

Jim on July 31st, 2009 9:00 am

Preaching to the choir

It wasn’t too long ago that these same folks couldn’t even balance their own checkbook (House banking scandal of 1992)