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The Spectacle Blog

More Proof that the American People are Smarter than Their Representatives

By Doug Bandow on 8.1.09 @ 3:01PM

Congress voted to waste $1 billion on the "cash for clunkers" program, essentially paying people to pay in older vehicles. The American people think the idea is stupid, but will take the money if offered. So the budget has been broken and Congress has voted to waste even more money.

Observes Rasmussen Reports:

A Rasmussen Reports survey conducted in mid-June showed that 17% of Americans were Very Likely to take advantage of the "Cash for Clunkers" program. Another 18% said they were Somewhat Like to do so.

Despite the willingness of people to accept the money if it was available, 54% opposed the "Cash for Clunkers" proposal and just 35% were in favor the plan. Twelve percent (12%) were undecided.

The Cash for Clunkers plan was designed to encourage people to trade in old cars for new, more fuel-efficient models. At the time of the survey, Congress had just passed the legislation and sent it to President Obama for his signature. Since it has become available, the number of people signing up has greatly exceeded government estimates and the program has already reached its initial one billion dollar spending limit. The House of Representatives quickly approved an additional $2 billion for the program and the Senate is set to vote on it next week.

Well, don't worry, be happy. With a deficit of nearly $2 trillion, what's another couple billion among taxpayers?!

View all comments (7) | Leave a comment

Nobama| 8.1.09 @ 4:27PM

If we're so smart why did we elect these morons?

A_Nonny_Mouse| 8.1.09 @ 11:20PM

One billion dollars, spent at $5000 or less per car, means there were 200,000 new cars sold last week.

That's a whole lot of car sales.

If our gubmint had just offered to subsidize new cars, the pent-up demand would obviously have saved GM and Chrysler. Instead, the Administration poured repeated billions into the car companies, which went bankrupt anyway; now somehow the unions have gained majority ownership of the reorganized auto manufacturers.

Oh, well... if the unions own the companies, they'll have to do whatever-it-takes to keep costs down so they can make a profit, right?

Jeremiah| 8.2.09 @ 3:30AM

Don't count on it, Nonny, Unions screw up everything they touch--just like the government.

Marc Jeric| 8.2.09 @ 4:19AM

90% of young people started their independent lives by buying an old clunker (not too many have rich parents). So now they will have to depend on unionized municipal busses - when they are not on strike, of course; otherwise they will use old bycicles or just walk to school or work. And, of course, it is not government money that subsidizes those new car purchase - it is taxpayers' money!

Stan Redmond| 8.2.09 @ 8:25AM

A_Nonny_Mouse:

Even better, let taxpayers keep $4500 more of their money through lower taxes and buy whatever they wanted.

joseph| 8.2.09 @ 10:49AM

My question is if the cash for clunkers also includes foriegn cars as well? If it does, it seems like it has stimulated less americans than it could potentially our governmnent would have put that stipulation to the purchase. Hopefully I was wrong!