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Are you looking for cash for your clunker?

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Tuesday, August 4. 2009
Comments (27)
Now that democrats are struggling to win over enough reluctant Republicans to pass a $2 billion extension of a rebate program that gives consumers up to $4,500 to trade in their old gas guzzlers, what are your thoughts on the 'Cash For Clunkers' program?

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#1 Bubba Smith on 08/04/09 at 07:41 AM
Sounds like it is working to me. By the way, there are pages of guidelines in the law, you just have to read them. One of the better ideas of the stimulus plan.
#1.1 Iam Huge on 08/04/09 at 10:26 AM
My favorite part of the stimulus bill was the billion dollar grant they gave to the porn industry.....bet you liberal f**ks didnt know about that one!
#1.1.1 Andrew Odom on 08/04/09 at 10:45 AM
Actually you are a little off on your facts, I believe. The number was nowhere near a billion dollars. In fact, the NEA (National Endowment for the Arts) was allotted $80 million out of the $787-billion stimulus bill approved earlier this year by Congress and President Obama for projects that were seeking grant funding. Yes, some of those projects included pornographic (self-described) ones. Most of the grants were in $25,000 increments though. Whatever the case, even if the NEA gave all $80 million to a porn company (which, again, they are not) it still would be $920 million shy of your stated amount.
#1.1.1.1 Iam huge on 08/04/09 at 04:04 PM
Andrew---Well since you are being crucial, it's a $787- trillion stimulus bill. I think you are off quite a few trillion yourself. Now, on to some more facts. I will be more exact from now on. The point I was making is that people are hurting and $1 spent in this manner by our Government is acting "stupidly".

$50,000 grant: Frameline, a gay and lesbian film house which screened Thundercrack, which is described as "the world's only underground kinky art porno horror film, complete with 4men, three women, and a gorilla."

$25,000 grant: San Francisco-based CounterPULSE, a group that produces the weekly "Pervs Put Out"--a performance that invites guests to "join your fellow pervs for some explicit, twisted fun."

$25,000 grant:"The Symmetry Project"---a dance piece that amounts to two people writhing naked on the floor.

No, it's not trillions or billions being spent on this porno. It's just a several thousand dollars here and there. No big deal we can borrow more and more. Money is unlimited! We can keep borrowing and keep printing the stuff. We can keep doing all this and not raise taxes on people that make under $250,000/yr. I dont know what I'm thinking...maybe I shouldnt worry about it all.
#1.1.1.1.1 Andrew Odom on 08/05/09 at 08:03 AM
Now we're talking. You caught my error and then offered an intelligent rebuttal. You are dead on with your project list. Thank you for bringing such a great point to the surface.

I personally do not endorse most of the spending (porkbellied and otherwise) wrapped up in the stimulus. You are right to worry and it is a worry I think about a lot. Printing more money does not give it value and raising taxes does nothing at this point but pull even more dollars from the economy.

You can't squeeze blood from a turnip!
#1.1.1.2 Enoc Sioul on 08/05/09 at 10:17 AM
That's real stimulation.
#2 Anonymous on 08/04/09 at 08:19 AM
I think the program is a good idea IN THEORY. However, I don't like the fact that the government is spending this much money on helping people get new cars while they are talking about increasing taxes.
#3 Anonymous on 08/04/09 at 09:05 AM
I think that this has been one of the best stimulus plans yet (much better than a three hundred dollar check) Not only does it help the car makers and the dealer there are so many other businesses benefitting from the plan. I hope they extend it, they can get the money from pulling it from the bail out that has not been paid out yet.
#4 Enoc Sioul on 08/04/09 at 09:31 AM
My question is what is to happen to all the clunkers that the dealership now own? Will they now stay off the road?
#4.1 Sheila Tolley on 08/04/09 at 10:53 AM
Hi Enoc,
No, obama is sending them to China, free shipping, so they can make lead coated toys and Budweiser cans for us to buy back with no import tax.
That's what makes Amu-rica great.
I still love you.
#4.2 Anonymous on 08/07/09 at 08:59 PM
they pour engine kill in them and send them off to be scrapped, remelted and reused, etc. the cars are not supposed to hit the road again.
#5 Anonymous on 08/04/09 at 10:58 AM
Great program. Good for the economy, jobs, taxes and the enviroment.
#6 anonymous on 08/04/09 at 11:23 AM
It looks to me like this cash for clunkers is actually taxes that we all will have to pay back. I know the auto industry (union) is behind Obama's plan. Sure it is helping out the auto industry now, but where is the money coming from. Even it comes from the stimulas package that has been voted on, it will still be up to all of us to pay it back. Now are we going to help all industries out there? If there are people out there who are out of work and having medical bills they can not pay, why not give it to them? I would rather they have it than to build roads for turtles or to study Pelosi's brown marsh rats.
#7 anonymous on 08/04/09 at 11:27 AM
Let us hope that this is not like the housing industry, we just put them in nice new cars whether they can pay for them or not. These clunkers are not suppose to be put back on the road, but some of the autos I have seen on the news makes me wonder if they might not have made pretty good transportation for some of us who do not make a lot of money.
#8 Anonymous on 08/04/09 at 11:29 AM
Yea they are doing this so that you will go buy another vehicle and get it repo'd in 6 months. I thought the idea was for americans to save money for hard times. If you spend every dime you have one a house and car how do you fix that blow out you have.
#9 Anonymous on 08/04/09 at 12:36 PM
It's just another attempt for the Gov't to take control of our $$$$$.(more taxes) There have been recessions before without all this 'BAILOUT" $$$$$$$ and America did just fine up until this time. This new President and his party are going to run our Country right into Bankruptcy.
#10 cats on 08/04/09 at 12:40 PM
It doesn't have any direct bearing on me.
I never buy new cars anyway, mine are always used.
I know this is really "my" money being used for this particular bailout but I'm just too busy trying to get through each day to think about this.
Told you I'm an ostrich.
#11 th on 08/04/09 at 03:06 PM
i have a friend in the wrecker business and i heard that they are crushing all the clunkers so that they will not be back o n the road. i hope all these people can afford these cars if not they have traded in the clunker and nothing to fall back on......
#12 anonymous on 08/04/09 at 06:10 PM
Well my vehicle does not qualify because it gets such poor gas mileage.
My ¾ ton suburban only gets 8 miles to the gallon so they classify it as a category 3 truck and the EPA does not rate the fuel mileage.
#13 Randy on 08/05/09 at 10:52 AM
I work in a Ford dealership in North Georgia and manage the CARS program here. It has been, from the start, an absolute NIGHTMARE. A good example is the administrative manual for setting up the program on your computer. At the end of 61 pages it had a "Notice of Paperwork Reduction" section. I have been at our dealership past 1am on several nights trying to get deals into the system, praying they won't be rejected. Then the Republicans want to filibuster the additional money to make CARS work. Like any other government program, everybody loses.
#14 UAW on 08/05/09 at 12:39 PM
They should have made the program for the U.S. car companies only...screw the foreign car manufactures!
#14.1 Anonymous on 08/07/09 at 09:03 PM
amen.
#15 UAW on 08/05/09 at 12:42 PM
Next year the govt will be passing new stimulous' to pay for all the bad car loans this has create and you will all pay again.
#15.1 ScottE on 08/05/09 at 03:39 PM
Another benefit of this, possibly the most important, is the big savings in gas used that will result. So we get boost to car industry sales while saving 10 or more miles per gallon for every car traded in. The fuel savings alone make this one of the better programs.
#15.1.1 anonymous on 08/06/09 at 11:08 PM
OK - since it is so great, would you like to pay back my share of the tax money given out?
#16 Julie Ann Knott on 08/06/09 at 10:04 PM
I think this is a crappy idea. Another problem I see in the future is when people are capable of using spare/used parts to keep their car running or even for restoration, none will be available. Some people could still restore cars to drive on a regular basis, but car manufacturers and parts houses will stop making parts because they won't be in demand. Even though I own restored antique cars, I am talking about cars made in the last 20-30 years. My "modern" cars are 2000, 1995 and 1994. The 2000 was purchased used and I would not hesitate purchasing a used part if needed for any of my cars. From what I understand used parts are a lucrative business, this would hurt those companies as well. Besides doesn't everyone like to preach about recycling? It's funny they only worry about cans, bottles and bags!

My antique cars 72 and 61 years old and I would drive either one of them to California tomorrow.

http://community.webshots.com/photo/fullsize/2537223040045242283RdnDpv

As for people that can't afford a new car, that is what separates the have and the have nots. It's called life.

Keeping V8ing
Julie Ann Knott

Member of
Early Ford V8 of America www.earlyfordv8.org
Regional Group #24
Regional Group #160
#17 Anonymous on 08/07/09 at 01:45 PM
I think most of your readers can't handly anything new. It seems to be too much for them. They must have been much better off when the republicans ran everything and they only looked out for the top 2% in this country. Wonder where Barnesville folks are hideing all that money they must have???
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