Last week, I thought about trading in my ol’ clunker for something a little nicer. Why not? The government is handing out money in a billion-dollar car allowance program. Did I hear “free cash”?
Sweet! Not only is my trade-in worth the government’s $4,500, but the dealership will throw in the car’s scrap value. That’s some money guaranteed.
Buying new cars — that should help stimulate our economy, right? Not to mention, purchasing a more fuel-efficient car is environmentally conscious. Who wouldn’t want to drive more miles on less gas, and save the planet?
Well, not to burst the perfect bubble, but I think this is the equivalent of putting a Band-aid on an injury requiring a tourniquet.
I’m all for being environmentally friendly and energy aware (and that’s the over-arching message of this program), but how can people expect to purchase a new car while foreclosures loom?
Maybe we should be a more concerned about creating jobs rather than finding experimental ways to spend credit. Logic would conclude; if we make money, we’ll spend money. Not vice versa.
Speaking of ridiculous spending, $1 billion started this program, and we’ve tapped that out in about a week. Now the government wants to throw in another $2 billion. Does money finally grow on trees? I love deficit spending. (Sarcasm.)
I can see the political cartoon already: Grown men sitting around the dinner table eating cars, and in the background, a toddler reviewing the bill.
Obviously, this only scratches the surface. Remember the old axiom: If something looks too good to be true …
It may be free now, but we’ll all pay for it later.