Cash for Clunkers

Our government just began sponsoring a “Cash for Clunkers” program. This is merely history repeating itself.

During the Great Depression of the 1930s, a Chevrolet representative would list the serial number of the vehicle, and someone from the dealership went with him with a sledge hammer to break the block. Although I am not sure of the exact amount, $25 comes to mind. I can’t imagine it could have been more than $50. In today’s world this amount sounds insignificant, but at that time a new car sold for $500 to $600, and a reliable older used vehicle could be obtained for $100.

The new stimulus program has various requirements for the new vehicle being purchased as well as the used car being traded. The buyer must also meet certain requirements to receive the maximum of $4,500.

Collins F. Kindred 
Smithville

Comments

[Ex-Car Salesman]

Buyer beware: You should do your homework prior to making a car purchase under the 'cash for clunkers' program. Various news outlets have highlighted some scams, both online and at the dealership that you should look out for.

See: http://tinyurl.com/nlv3ed

[NoMoreMrNiceGuy]

JoCo actaully if you look at Missouiri as an example you will see that the largest percentage of each dollar of revenue goes to social welfare prgrams not private industry. I agree that at the Federal level cronies, lobbyists and unions get their shake fo the money tree. My point being that poor people do not supply jobs and the government supplies only a fraction since the government does not manufacture or produce anything.

[NoMoreMrNiceGuy]

Well we went to attempt to trade for a new vehicle and guess what? Just like every other bogus government program that Obama tries to take credit for, apparently this one is sitting idle. Dealers evidently can not start the process of the program. We went to several dealerships and none of them could utilize the program. This is just more lawyers tricks. Stimulus = Taking OPM and claiming to be a financial genius = Obama.

[JoCo]

One more thing, since you asked. No, I don't think unions are the only one's that "should be allowed to earn a living". I DO think they are as effective as a cooperative effort toward a good living for blue-collars as we've yet seen. And, if you'll follow Union vision, see that most, particularly my UAW, would work for the inclusion of ALL workers in that dream. Also,the modern industrial union was formed by nonunion workers employed in repressive factory conditions; not "out of nowhere" as if an "illusion".

[JoCo]

And, NMMNG, I'm no Obama worshipper or apostleogist. You likely won't find me bowing down to anyone's nonsense; unless I'm ready to REALLY bow down.

Is fifty*&$#*& too old for angst?

[JoCo]

NMMNG,

Just my point. The billions of dollars in corporate projects WE are involved in, have certainly been on the receiving end of government subsidy and/or favoarable tax treatment. I'm not saying that's bad; only pointing out that it is a known part of the business climate, just not as acknowledged by some as individual welfare.

Tell me, NMMNG, without scathing the overbuyers who come from all economic classes, who has lost more in these deals? Buyers who walked away from equity or mortgagers that bundled questionable paperwork and passed it up until the tarp was brought out?

The messiah came 2,000 years ago for Christians. If you mean Obama, again, my point exactly. The industrial corporate model is nearing 200 years in the making and we are now at a point in time where greed has rolled over itself and cannot move until someone else works en masse to help it proceed. Enter Obama.

[NoMoreMrNiceGuy]

So you're claiming that unions, government and poor welfare classes will provide jobs, not corporate entities. Supposedly this so called recession stemmed from high risk mortgages. So if someone is non-union they should not be allowed to earn a living, is that what you claim? I know that the coal industry supplies millions fo jobs in the supply chain, union and non-union. So you are saying that out of nowhere all of the billions of dollars in projectswe are currently invloved in are illusions? These projects were up and going long before the messiah came to office.

[JoCo]

To tie into the thread that I got away from, the Cash-for-Clunker letter makes the historical connection and the new program transfers the stimulus back thru the car companies, with temporary individual tax relief.

[JoCo]

And, if good paying jobs dissolve in the coal industry, it won't be due as much to new policy, as to the further smash-down of wages, initiated in part by corporate distress and their appeal to labor, as a variable cost to capital's fixed status, to help keep that capital afloat and fixed. High unemployment, far from being an outcome of misguided policy will be another source of corporate recovery as this business initiated downcycle magically turns up. Sound familiar? Whattaya think will happen then, among the masses of working poor? Unions? Enlightened political leadership... yes, all the things that business abhors and a new reason to downcycle. It's deepening and worsening capitalism, the stuff of industrial history.

[JoCo]

NMMNG,

I think you'll find the overwhelming bulk of government welfare is porked out to private enterprise, including the recovery funds. Even the tax benefits to individuals are filtered thru private enterprise, which has its own heaping share separately.

The reason that government stimuli may not achieve full multiplier thru the economy may be largely due to transfers to offshore accounts and plain old theft. It's safe to say that, whether spent wisely or as directed, that the middle and poorer classes will turn over their shares 80-100% back thru the economy and its intrinsic market multiplier. Can't say the same for funds to the wealthy and tax money M.I.A.

[NoMoreMrNiceGuy]

Jazz you do realize that the "stimulus" money is fiction, it is not real.
I doubt any Obama endorser will blame him for anything he does or doesn't do. One thing is for sure, it will be really interesting to see the millions of GOOD paying jobs dissolve when Obama bankrupts coal related industry. Stimulus is create dby the private sector not government welfare.

[JoCo]

NMMNG,

Wanted to reach you on this subjey: The C.F.C. program qualifies for vehicles that are NEWER than 25 years, among other requirements. See cars.gov

[Jazz-Man]

I’m torn, there is so much money in that stimulus but we all are still looking for the improvement, I am still willing to give a chance but when and who was lobbing for money for Kansas and Missouri should have thought about the real needs of these cities. I don’t blame Obama I blame those who didn’t think about what’s really important.