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Author	Topic: Whoops—'Cash for Clunkers' Actually Hurt the Environment	Post a Reply Back to Topics

WR-INC Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:39,677 Points:3,652,035 Joined:Dec 2002	Message Posted: Jan 5, 2013 11:34:42 AM Ignore WR-INC Report Abuse Back in 2009, President Obama’s “Cash for Clunkers ” program was supposed to be a boon for the environment and the economy. During a limited time, consumers could trade in an old gas-guzzling used car for up to $4,500 cash back towards the purchase of a fuel-efficient new car. It seemed like a win for everyone: the environment , the gasping auto industry and cash-strapped consumers. Though almost a million people poured into car dealerships eager to exchange their old jalopies for something shiny and new, recent reports indicate the entire program may have actually hurt the environment far more than it helped. According to E Magazine, the “Clunkers” program, which is officially known as the Car Allowance Rebates System (CARS), produced tons of unnecessary waste while doing little to curb Visit Yahoo News for full article

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Message Posted: Jan 5, 2013 11:34:42 AM

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Back in 2009, President Obama’s “Cash for Clunkers ” program was supposed to be a boon for the environment and the economy. During a limited time, consumers could trade in an old gas-guzzling used car for up to $4,500 cash back towards the purchase of a fuel-efficient new car. It seemed like a win for everyone: the environment , the gasping auto industry and cash-strapped consumers.

Though almost a million people poured into car dealerships eager to exchange their old jalopies for something shiny and new, recent reports indicate the entire program may have actually hurt the environment far more than it helped.

According to E Magazine, the “Clunkers” program, which is officially known as the Car Allowance Rebates System (CARS), produced tons of unnecessary waste while doing little to curb
Visit Yahoo News for full article

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doctorindyj Champion Author Santa Fe Posts:3,543 Points:865,285 Joined:Nov 2009	Message Posted: Jan 7, 2013 1:26:18 PM Ignore doctorindyj Report Abuse The road to hell is paved with good intentions.
danandmary Champion Author California Posts:4,336 Points:995,425 Joined:Jun 2010	Message Posted: Jan 7, 2013 6:54:14 AM Ignore danandmary Report Abuse We knew it back then!!!!!
1Dragon2012 Rookie Author Orange County Posts:93 Points:58,250 Joined:May 2012	Message Posted: Jan 7, 2013 2:14:56 AM Ignore 1Dragon2012 Report Abuse YEs...It's hurt our business, right. I own the Junkyards in L.A. I had going thru. the regulations and business problems right now.
MAC48 Champion Author Dallas Posts:1,581 Points:789,295 Joined:Dec 2006	Message Posted: Jan 7, 2013 1:02:51 AM Ignore MAC48 Report Abuse The program met the primary objective of boosting sales for GM, Ford and Chrysler at a very critical time for the US auto industry. The foolish move in the regulations was the requirement to destroy the vehicles traded in. A much better move would have been to let owners of even older and more inefficient vehicles trade in their even older models for the "cash for clunker" trade ins.
nsdp Champion Author San Antonio Posts:1,117 Points:48,115 Joined:Jun 2012	Message Posted: Jan 6, 2013 6:00:21 PM Ignore nsdp Report Abuse No every one seems to forget the original primary goal which was to get Ford , GM and Chrysler and other American auto plants back to making cars and trucks. The environmental rules were to prevent Cadillac Escalades from qualifying. Boy could I make fools out of posters here on the witness stand.
Sego Veteran Author Florida Posts:420 Points:75,545 Joined:Apr 2012	Message Posted: Jan 6, 2013 4:57:25 PM Ignore Sego Report Abuse Very wasteful. Some or most of the engines could have been great rebuilds.
bwatchingu Champion Author Arkansas Posts:1,864 Points:628,900 Joined:Jan 2009	Message Posted: Jan 6, 2013 10:18:32 AM Ignore bwatchingu Report Abuse Cash for Clunkers-A big stupid waste.
rampower80 Champion Author Kentucky Posts:2,174 Points:489,165 Joined:Jan 2012	Message Posted: Jan 6, 2013 10:01:59 AM Ignore rampower80 Report Abuse My father traded in his small pickup truck for a Ford F-150 with the Cash for Clunkers deal. Small pickup to extra large pickup under the program. Hmmmmm! I don't think that was what congress intended. Most of the vehicles were shredded and not recycled.
bigt61 All-Star Author Virginia Posts:671 Points:205,470 Joined:Jul 2008	Message Posted: Jan 6, 2013 9:53:54 AM Ignore bigt61 Report Abuse Yeah, I witnessed a lot of nice cars get scraped for no reason. Mercedes included. Sad, bureaucrats screw up everything they touch..........and spend our money doing it. The liberal MSM gives all these Obama flunkies a pass.
blupupher Champion Author Houston Posts:3,695 Points:775,745 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: Jan 6, 2013 8:54:50 AM Ignore blupupher Report Abuse big surprise there
John747 Champion Author Chicago Posts:474,705 Points:3,652,835 Joined:Aug 2001	Message Posted: Jan 6, 2013 8:36:57 AM Ignore John747 Report Abuse Is anyone surprised that our government screwed things up with this program? But don't worry.......that same government is going to start running your health care.
genoist Veteran Author Orlando Posts:341 Points:165,470 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Jan 6, 2013 7:25:21 AM Ignore genoist Report Abuse If the trade ins were not clunkers, they should have been resold.
truvoice1 Champion Author San Diego Posts:1,408 Points:500,275 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: Jan 6, 2013 3:25:37 AM Ignore truvoice1 Report Abuse As a junk yard crawler, I was amazed to see so many 'nice' cars that were traded in as part of this program. And many of them were 2005 and later cars that were low mileage and in good condition! The well to do owners who didn't need the money were the ones who took advantage of this program. What a farce!
pricewar Champion Author Ogden Posts:2,080 Points:302,715 Joined:Jul 2012	Message Posted: Jan 6, 2013 3:18:35 AM Ignore pricewar Report Abuse Too many whoops in this Obama administration
iFueler Champion Author Durham Posts:65,033 Points:206,750 Joined:Nov 2012	Message Posted: Jan 6, 2013 3:12:27 AM Ignore iFueler Report Abuse another example of unintended consequences
Amplion Champion Author Oregon Posts:6,921 Points:1,892,760 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Jan 6, 2013 2:57:57 AM Ignore Amplion Report Abuse This is as the majority VOTED !!!!!!!!!!!
pricewar Champion Author Ogden Posts:2,080 Points:302,715 Joined:Jul 2012	Message Posted: Jan 6, 2013 2:04:19 AM Ignore pricewar Report Abuse What change will do to the environment. Stupid is what stupid does
MadFueler Champion Author Winston-Salem Posts:1,084 Points:200,210 Joined:Sep 2012	Message Posted: Jan 6, 2013 2:03:16 AM Ignore MadFueler Report Abuse If all those recyclable components went into landfills once the vehicles were shredded, that seems to be the fault of the scrapyards, not the program itself. But it sounds like, from what a couple other respondents are saying, that that's not what happened at all. So what's really going on?
pulpwood Champion Author Mississippi Posts:7,379 Points:1,860,855 Joined:Sep 2006	Message Posted: Jan 6, 2013 1:36:45 AM Ignore pulpwood Report Abuse so did katrina and sandy.
CivicMA Champion Author Boston Posts:2,040 Points:563,470 Joined:Jun 2011	Message Posted: Jan 6, 2013 1:12:37 AM Ignore CivicMA Report Abuse Leave it to the gov't to screw everything up.
NedW Champion Author Indianapolis Posts:5,755 Points:1,168,970 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: Jan 6, 2013 1:09:10 AM Ignore NedW Report Abuse Say it aint so.
LostInNY Champion Author New York Posts:1,864 Points:676,495 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Jan 6, 2013 12:53:06 AM Ignore LostInNY Report Abuse Just pile all the cars in Oblama's backyard in Chi....
LostInNY Champion Author New York Posts:1,864 Points:676,495 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Jan 6, 2013 12:52:18 AM Ignore LostInNY Report Abuse of course, no one ever thinks long term...thank Oblama for that!!
dh0770 Champion Author Colorado Posts:6,987 Points:672,460 Joined:Jun 2011	Message Posted: Jan 6, 2013 12:46:35 AM Ignore dh0770 Report Abuse Another obama taxpayer funded failure!
leeac Champion Author Ohio Posts:1,736 Points:461,605 Joined:Jan 2012	Message Posted: Jan 6, 2013 12:31:18 AM Ignore leeac Report Abuse This was a boost to the economy at that time. Overall, it was a very good program.
oilfreak All-Star Author Houston Posts:707 Points:38,185 Joined:Oct 2012	Message Posted: Jan 6, 2013 12:17:46 AM Ignore oilfreak Report Abuse Another epic fail.
cheap59 Champion Author Michigan Posts:4,240 Points:983,270 Joined:May 2010	Message Posted: Jan 6, 2013 12:06:47 AM Ignore cheap59 Report Abuse Not surprising.
SammyAdams Champion Author Tallahassee Posts:3,201 Points:821,285 Joined:Nov 2010	Message Posted: Jan 5, 2013 11:50:08 PM Ignore SammyAdams Report Abuse "Cash For Clunkers hurt much more than the "Environment" but it's good that they are coming around to admitting some faults with the program.
sillywagon Champion Author New York Posts:15,121 Points:1,469,045 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Jan 5, 2013 10:35:59 PM Ignore sillywagon Report Abuse I remember when the "Cash for clunkers" was happening that it was hurting the profitability of junkyards. The most valuable parts of a junk car, the engine and transmission had to be destroyed. Than with a glut of junk cars the price of scrap metal went down in price. Only bureaucrats could think "clash for clunkers" was a good idea.
Tekkersmom57 Champion Author Syracuse Posts:2,019 Points:728,890 Joined:May 2010	Message Posted: Jan 5, 2013 10:35:29 PM Ignore Tekkersmom57 Report Abuse Perfectly said, Zuegma!
esq262 Champion Author Asheville Posts:2,998 Points:674,540 Joined:Jul 2011	Message Posted: Jan 5, 2013 10:27:25 PM Ignore esq262 Report Abuse D'oh
CVA19 Champion Author Salem Posts:2,393 Points:632,975 Joined:Aug 2011	Message Posted: Jan 5, 2013 9:25:52 PM Ignore CVA19 Report Abuse Let's see, we already knew that cash for clunkers was bad for the taxpayers; now we find out that it was bad for the environment. What was it good for, again?
alterman156 Champion Author New York Posts:7,630 Points:1,585,225 Joined:Dec 2008	Message Posted: Jan 5, 2013 7:50:44 PM Ignore alterman156 Report Abuse Cash for clunkers was a farce.
drpepperTX Champion Author Texas Posts:9,165 Points:779,850 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Jan 5, 2013 7:47:05 PM Ignore drpepperTX Report Abuse We already knew it was another bad idea from Obammy, this is just anther aspect of how stupid his "ideas" are.
playtimeCLE Champion Author Cleveland Posts:8,704 Points:1,572,075 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Jan 5, 2013 7:24:39 PM Ignore playtimeCLE Report Abuse They sure sis not think this one through. Leaves you wondering what our government does think through.
schatzila Champion Author Los Angeles Posts:5,089 Points:1,044,320 Joined:Jun 2010	Message Posted: Jan 5, 2013 6:54:13 PM Ignore schatzila Report Abuse I disagree.
doeslayersr Champion Author Illinois Posts:9,303 Points:899,705 Joined:Dec 2010	Message Posted: Jan 5, 2013 6:53:57 PM Ignore doeslayersr Report Abuse Details, details. Now be a good little communist, marxists, socialist, liberal, democrat or eco left terrorist and get with the administration's programs and shut up.
Grizdad Champion Author San Bernardino Posts:5,687 Points:806,530 Joined:Oct 2010	Message Posted: Jan 5, 2013 6:32:33 PM Ignore Grizdad Report Abuse These policies will haunt us for a long, long, time...
CheapDiesel All-Star Author Indianapolis Posts:836 Points:189,995 Joined:Nov 2005	Message Posted: Jan 5, 2013 5:40:54 PM Ignore CheapDiesel Report Abuse Government needs to get out of the social engineering and stick to what the Constitution says it is responsible for...I don't see that happening anytime soon.
clpassenubye Champion Author Los Angeles Posts:3,374 Points:776,930 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Jan 5, 2013 5:38:08 PM Ignore clpassenubye Report Abuse A very poorly thought out program but I guess its on par for this adminstration
Taxrefugee Champion Author Arizona Posts:1,540 Points:414,470 Joined:Jan 2012	Message Posted: Jan 5, 2013 5:26:18 PM Ignore Taxrefugee Report Abuse This Administration couldn't organize a one car parade.
eschroth442 Champion Author Cleveland Posts:1,196 Points:358,490 Joined:Nov 2011	Message Posted: Jan 5, 2013 5:16:30 PM Ignore eschroth442 Report Abuse just another proof that allowing the government into a program is a sure way to get opposite of what you wanted
Radar1992 Champion Author Florida Posts:1,465 Points:337,865 Joined:Dec 2011	Message Posted: Jan 5, 2013 4:41:59 PM Ignore Radar1992 Report Abuse One more piece of evidence that this administration does not think their policies through....
hmw10284 Champion Author California Posts:1,285 Points:224,925 Joined:Sep 2012	Message Posted: Jan 5, 2013 4:15:45 PM Ignore hmw10284 Report Abuse E Magazine states recycling just the plastic and metal alone from the CARS scraps would have saved 24 million barrels of oil. While some of the “Clunkers” were truly old, many of the almost 700,000 cars were still in perfectly good condition. In fact, many that qualified for the program were relatively “young,” with fuel efficiencies that rivaled newer cars.
hmw10284 Champion Author California Posts:1,285 Points:224,925 Joined:Sep 2012	Message Posted: Jan 5, 2013 4:13:04 PM Ignore hmw10284 Report Abuse In this case the law of unintended consequences was ignored and then combined with the laws of foreseeable but ignored consequences causing more harm than good both environmentally and to tax payers who will shoulder the economic burden of these actions. The "green idiots" who really don't bother to understand how their actions affect the environment. They are controlled by the democratic party whose logic is if you don't agree with us you are evil was aided by the administrations desire to make it look like the bail out of auto companies worked by giving massive incentives for people buy cars thus making the bail out look like a good idea when all it really did was increase the cost of the bail out to tax payers by the cost of the CARS program and the cost of the environmental mess it has created.
TC5504 Champion Author West Virginia Posts:1,080 Points:221,710 Joined:Sep 2012	Message Posted: Jan 5, 2013 4:09:44 PM Ignore TC5504 Report Abuse Another great idea gone bad.
Pramodsharma Champion Author Richmond Posts:2,104 Points:413,140 Joined:Feb 2012	Message Posted: Jan 5, 2013 3:53:23 PM Ignore Pramodsharma Report Abuse Election is over, Let's talk which makes sense. The waste was already existing. This is "New" hawk that can get place here.
BurntOrange Champion Author Austin Posts:8,882 Points:1,610,715 Joined:Nov 2007	Message Posted: Jan 5, 2013 3:53:05 PM Ignore BurntOrange Report Abuse Scrapping cars that ran and replacing with new wasted energy? Wow, you'd need to be a rocket surgeon to figure that out.
MImusicman Champion Author Michigan Posts:2,013 Points:435,975 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Jan 5, 2013 3:41:47 PM Ignore MImusicman Report Abuse DUH!!! It just shows what govt incompetence and interference with the free market does. They spent money we didn't have, drove up car prices for lower income people (the ones the Dems say they represent better) and now this enviro issue
MrLefty0706 Champion Author Chicago Posts:1,590 Points:379,760 Joined:Apr 2012	Message Posted: Jan 5, 2013 3:37:17 PM Ignore MrLefty0706 Report Abuse The program creators did not think through the consequences.