Yea, those poor babies at the dealerships had to do some paperwork and wait for their money rather than sit on their hands with no one to sell to and waiting...for nothing.
It was funded with money we do not have, but it spurred sales as it was intended to do. Dealers made sales they would NOT have otherwise made. To that extent calling it a failure is a real stretch.
But of course, you know that. You just have a raging hatred for Obama that skews your views of reality. I think clearer than you on these matters, because I'm smarter than you.
disposing of the old appliances should not be an issue as landfill fees for their disposal are built into the price of the machine when purchased. so when you take it to the land fill or your municipality trash pick up comes to get it for you, there SHOULD NOT be a charge. Also, landfills are required by law (and have been for some time) to recycle old appliances - they go to the landfill but don't actually get buried - they get picked up by an independent contractor who recycles them for scrap - good system. As for the rebate incentive for consumers to buy more energy efficient appliances, that itself is nothing new - least round here. Our local power companies (there are 3 that join territories in my area) have been offering such rebates and incentives on new energy star appliances for years. the power company will even finance certain appliances/heat pumps FOR YOU if you can't get financing elsewhere. Subsidies for farmers and oil companies and even private utility companies have been around for years and to date have cumulative totals in the 100's of billions $, so in the grand scheme of things, 300 million to help consumers save some money each month on their power bill and help applliance manufacturers keep employees on the payroll is small beans in comparison. I heard something about Iraq on the news this morning as well. It said we were spending about 8 billion per month in Iraq, and probably still are so therefore if my math is correct, we would spend 300 million in Iraq in 1.125 days. I think excessive spending is bad and killing our country. But I would certainly not put this TINY rebate which helps American consumers and American workers here stateside in the realm of wasteful government spending in light of the real and titanic figures of graft and waste that are the real culprits in breaking the solvency of the US. If anything this thread should draw attention to the 500 elephants in the room, of which I have only named a few, rather than the dust might in the corner that is this rebate program.
Location: On an Island in the west coast of New England
Posts: 13,133
Quote:
Originally Posted by vc1111
I think clearer than you on these matters, because I'm smarter than you.
What happened to the kinder... gentler VC ?
Welcome back......
Quote:
It was funded with money we do not have, but it spurred sales as it was intended to do. Dealers made sales they would NOT have otherwise made. To that extent calling it a failure is a real stretch.
I am wondering how it will all play out now that it is over. Ford had a better quarter than last year but ironically GM and Chrysler are still way in the red as compared to a year ago. The real story will be how the auto companies deal with the wall that should show itself soon and might have been made worse by clunkers.
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Too busy with fishing to spend much time here.
Last edited by Champlain Islander; 09-02-2009 at 05:05 AM.
I need some new fishing rods to go with my 8 day offshore trip next year. I hope that program come along soon.
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John Adams “The moment the idea is admitted into society that property is not as sacred as the laws of God, and that there is not a force of law and public justice to protect it, anarchy and tyranny commence.”
Ronald Reagan: 'Everybody that is for abortion has already been born'
"I never said I was worth it. I only said I wouldn't do it for less " William F. Buckley Jr.
Cash for Appliances?
