Thread: cash for clunkers?

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A friend sent this to me yesterday:

Of course we need the federal government involved in the healthcare industry, because they run things like a well oiled machine:

The U.S. Post Service was established in 1775 - they've had 234 years to get it right; it is broke, and even though heavily subsidized, it can't compete with private sector FedEx and UPS services.

Social Security was established in 1935 - they've had 74 years to get it right; it is broke.

Fannie Mae was established in 1938 - they've had 71 years to get it right; it is broke. Freddie Mac was established in 1970 - they've had 39 years to get it right; it is broke. Together Fannie and Freddie have now led the entire world into the worst economic collapse in 80 years.

The War on Poverty was started in 1964 - we''ve had 45 years to get it right; $1 trillion of our tax dollars each year is transferred to "the poor"; it hasn't worked.

Medicare and Medicaid were established in 1965 - they've had 44 years to get it right; they are both broke; and now our government dares to mention them as models for all US health care.

AMTRAK was established in 1970 - they've had 39 years to get it right; last year they bailed it out as it continues to run at a loss.

"Cash for Clunkers" was established in 2009 and went broke in 2009 - - after 80% of the cars purchased turned out to be produced by foreign companies, and dealers nationwide are buried under bureaucratic paperwork demanded by a government that is not yet paying them what was promised.

I have been violently opposed to the car company bailout since day one. That said, I was (am) also opposed to cash for clunkers.

First, the bailout didn't accomplish anything. GM and Chrysler still went bankrupt, people dtill lost their jobs, pensions got reduced and you and me, the american taxpayer got a big bill!!

Second, why do we all seem to have our heads collectively up our a--es????

I don't care where the parts come from, when a car is sold, where do the profits go?? If it's not to the US then we're screwed.

Cash for clunkers takes perfectly good cars that are serviceable and somewhat economical and destroys them. The people who need the $$$ most can't afford a new car.

To add insult to injury we (you and I) own 60% of GM and too many of us are going out and buying Japanese, Korean, German, etc cars.

I just bought a new GM car. I want my 60% ownership to be profitable!!

My impression of the Cash for Clunkers is that it attracted two groups of buyers; 1. those who were going to buy a car in the near future and saw an opportunity and 2. those who were enticed into buying a car by the hype. Those who were going to buy a car anyway pulled their purchase up to now instead of waiting a few months. This means that they didnt increase the number of cars sold; they just lumped them into a shorter time period. This is a common US industry happening; yank tommorrow's sales into today. Then, when tomorrow comes, yank some more and hope.

Those who were enticed to buy probably bought over their heads. There is a reason that most drove "clunkers"....that's what they could afford. At some point in time, those folks will have to dump their new car by either letting it get reposessed or by selling it on the used market. This flood will lower the value of used cars because of the increased supply....a loss.

All the government did was to take $3billion from the private auto sector and redistribute it.

This and the auto bail out are great examples of people who think they have the solution screwing up other people's lives. IF McDonalds goes out of business because nobody buying their product, the entire hamburger industry doesnt collapse....people who buy burgers go elsewhere for a better product. The Union guy who sold buns now sells more to Wendy's or Carl Jrs or Burger King. The guy who makes the cardboard boxes still sells the same.....people dont quit buying burgers, they just adjust their choice of suppliers. Same with the auto industry.....there are going to be xx million cars sold next year.
Bailing out GM or Chrysler will not sell more cars...it will only pay your campaign debts to those who supported you.

You got it Robot.

A couple of other thoughts...

The next bailout will be for those who can't afford their car payments
and
I read that because of 'cash for clunkers' GM hired back 1000 workers to build more cars, 1 week before the end of the program... no wonder GM went bankrupt.

Actually I think the next bailout deal will be for appliances. I heard something to that affect on the news a few days ago. I hope they don't do it but, you know the appliance manufacturers will be for it. Somebody else will line up behind them most likely.
The govt. spending money is sorta' like us running up a credit card bill. Sooner or later it's got to be paid back (with interest).

Good for you Gary, you're paying attention. And driving the corporate welfare bandwagon are the suits at GE: subsidized wind turbines, lapdog media support, mandated mercury filled flourescent bulbs, and next. appliances. Proof it pays to be a political butt, er, boot licker.

What's wrong with you people, aren't you happy with the "change" that was voted for?

Originally Posted by NTFDAY

What's wrong with you people, aren't you happy with the "change" that was voted for?

no







......

Originally Posted by NTFDAY

What's wrong with you people, aren't you happy with the "change" that was voted for?

Yeah, just a bunch of un-patriotic, brown shirt, swastika wearing astroturfer fascists and racist teabaggers (I'm sure I missed a couple, call Nancy and check will ya?) who only want to undermine this great nation. They just don't know they're supposed to shut up.........just shut up!