Can We Trade in Our Republican Senate Clunkers?
It seems this is how the typical political discourse in Washington occurs these days:
Democrats: We have this great idea that...
Republicans: NO!
Democrats: But if we....
Republicans: NO!
Democrats: How about if...
Republicans: NO!
Democrats: Or we....
Republicans: NO!
Democrats: It'll be good for....
Republicans: NO! NO! NO! Don't you get it? Whatever you push for, no matter how good it is for the country and for Americans, we're gonna oppose it because it's in our own selfish interests to undermine President Obama, the economy, health care and everything else on the administration's agenda because the 2010 midterms are right around the corner and we want to take back the controls.
Case in point, the government's "cash for clunkers" recession-busting program, which gives rebates of $3500-$4500 to anyone trading in an old heap for a new, more energy-efficient car. The initiative was such a hit with spending-starved consumers in July that Ford posted its first quarterly profit in two years, and others including GM, Chrysler and Toyota saw significant sales increases over June. Dealers reported selling 250,000 automobiles, a pace not seen since before the recession began. So successful was the program that the government blew through its initial $1 billion budget, and has gone back to Congress to request an additional $2 billion to keep it going. The House approved the measure last week, and now it rests with the highly partisan Senate.
So let's analyze this: the government is helping drive (pun intended) consumers to make big-ticket purchases, which in turn is clearly reviving an anemic auto industry, which in turn could result in a ripple effect throughout Detroit and ultimately create jobs and help aid the nation's financial recovery. Sounds like a perfect, spot-on strategy to inject some much-need life into the ailing economy, right? Well, not if you're a Republican who cares more about getting re-elected and winning back Congress than fixing the economy and helping Americans get back on their feet.
The beauty of the cash-for-clunkers program is that it's an inarguable success. It's working exactly as the administration envisioned, and the results are clear, factual and impossible to dispute. But when asked about it, and if they'll support it, Republicans offer up the most lame excuses.
Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (KY) on Monday criticized Obama for underestimating the program's popularity because he initially only earmarked $1 billion to fund it. So let's get this straight: Obama screwed up because the program is a huge success! Ya gotta love the Republicans' convoluted logic. Other talking point criticisms are that while the program's successful, it's "mortgaging our children's future" and/or is taking away critical stimulus money from more worthy programs.
But the simple truth is this: Republicans don't give a crap about the unemployed, the uninsured, the economy and making this country financially healthy again. To the contrary, it's in their political best interest to root for failure. To wish the economy further turmoil, to have greater unemployment, to have Detroit go bankrupt, and to generally just get voters so angry and fed up that they'll vote Republican again. But Americans are starting to get encouraged by all the positive signs in the economy, and that could ultimately make them happy again. And happy will not equate to GOP votes come November 2010.
What the cash-for-clunkers program has clearly demonstrated is that there's tremendous pent-up demand among consumers, as evidenced by the record 7 percent savings rate and the program's success in loosening those purse-strings. While there are indeed millions of Americans unfortunately without jobs and living hand to mouth, there are still plenty of people with money and this program is helping them spend it, which in turn is helping lift the economy. Senate Republicans need to lay down their partisan swords and act responsibly here by passing an additional $2 billion funding measure.
Loading comments…
Want to reply to a comment? Hint: Click "Reply" at the bottom of the comment; after being approved your comment will appear directly underneath the comment you replied to
In response to new Republican talking point saying that "Cash for Clunkers" is a failure because it incentivized so many sales in such a short period, and that this "mismanagement" proves that the government couldn't manage healthcare since they couldn't get something simple like car rebates right:
Usually it’s a good thing
To reach your goal sooner than you thought.
For Republicans condemning “Cash for Clunkers” for exceeding its goals
(and maintaining that Obamacare therefore won't work either),
I guess that it is not.
By their definition the Republican Health Savings Account program
is the best.
8 million people covered versus their goal of 45 million
is such a big success.
www.MySpace.com//Newsericks blog)
I think you people are missing the point. It doesn't matter if "Cash for Clunkers" stimulates car sales. It's not yours or my responsibility to pay for part of someone else's car. I have my own stuff to pay for. We have become so fearful of a recession that abuse of public funds is just totally out of control. If someone already has a serviceable car, do they really need a new one with new payments right now? Are we really trusting car salesman with a multibillion dollar program? This is a billion dollars gone in one week. This isn't what we pay taxes for.
What is greatly puzzling is the GOP declaring loudly "govt doesn't work, govt programs don't work etc"...if they think that, WHY are they in govt?
Why do they run for office if they don't think their office is necessary in running the govt?
If you don't think govt works, GET OUT of govt and go back to your basements and type.
My, my - lessons in socialism/capitalism, lessons in representative government; everyone is so darn wise. I'm sorry, did I miss something? Are any of you at all involved in any way with local, municipal, state or federal government? Do you know what routes your taxes take back into your pockets? The answer, if you are honest, is "no, I have no idea at all". So please stop with words like subsidize, and "sending it to Washington". Your taxes don't go to Washington - they mostly wind up right back in your state's coffers. See, that's where your local services come from - your state, not the federal government. And we all use local services - whether it's the sewer system, the highways or turning on the water faucet. And we do love to have those street lights on when we're out after dark, don't we? Your taxes help to make all that possible. Oh yes, and your local schools - yeah, that's where they get money also. And regarding subsidizing - do you have any idea what it would cost you for a tomato? asparagus? that hamburger you're eating if your taxes were not subsidizing any number of industries?
You are starting to sound like the man who told the senator to "keep the government's hands off my Medicare". He didn't know what he was talking about either.
The article is very simple in it's thesis - the cash for clunkers program works. Because the program works, it should be
Huh? You could not be more wrong. A quick google search shows that 21% of fed spending is on military, 21% on social security and 20% is on medicare.
Being from Michigan, I have to tell you the "cash for clunkers" has not only boosted sales and revenue, but boosted our spirits. Of course, the party of NO doesn't want anything to succeed. After all, they did such a fine job of things over the past 8 years. They are sore losers ...get over it. We will remember all those "nos" at every election that comes up. I would vote for my neighbor's dog before I would vote for a Republican ...matter of fact, the dog is probably more literate.
I'm glad you are benefitting from my taxes. If GM et al had not caved to the liberal unions for decades and actually built decent cars, you wouldn't need MY bailout. (No it's not Obama's money, it's mine.) How about buying me a new pool for my beach house in return?
How do you feel about your taxes going to support an endless war?
We don't choose our enemies, they choose us. Congress and the President agreed that this war was justified, and I'm thankful that Bush was relentless in winning it.
Thank you for your time in writing this article.
Where socialism sought totalitarian control of a society’s economic processes through direct state operation of the means of production, fascism sought that control indirectly, through domination of nominally private owners. Where socialism nationalized property explicitly, fascism did so implicitly, by requiring owners to use their property in the “national interest”—that is, as the autocratic authority conceived it. (Nevertheless, a few industries were operated by the state.) Where socialism abolished all market relations outright, fascism left the appearance of market relations while planning all economic activities. Where socialism abolished money and prices, fascism controlled the monetary system and set all prices and wages politically. In doing all this, fascism denatured the marketplace.
In the economic sphere, many fascist leaders have claimed to support a "Third Way" in economic policy, which they believed superior to both the rampant individualism of unrestrained capitalism and the severe control of state communism. This was to be achieved by a form of government control over business and labor (called "the corporate state" by Mussolini)
My wife and I are replacing our wood floors. Where's the cash for wood floors? We need a new fridge. Where's the cash for fridges? This is ludicrous. I am tired of buying crap for other people who are too lazy to earn it for themselves.
Take you gas guzzler and trade it in, there now see it is for cars not everything else.
Everyone pays taxes you're not the only one.
This program is based on gas millage nothing more nothing less anyone who wants to trade in their vehicle for a better GMP one can do so.
Have at it, just don't ask me to subsidize it.
Because your wood floors don't pollute the air...
They probably should make a program to trade in old appliances for newer more energy efficient ones, good idea!
Better yet, trade in all the clunkers in Congress. Term limits. I don't buy the facade of Dems vs Reps. They are one big happy gerrymandered family. The fights are scripted to build campaign contributions.
Let's throw out as many of the clunkers as we can in 2010, both parties.
Here's an interesting question for conservatives; what difference to the economy does it make, if an individual or the government spends a dollar?
Try to answer honestly please.
Simple. The government always takes a cut and they produce nothing. The only way to improve an economy is to increase production. Here's an easy way to understand this: If government spending improved an economy why wouldn't all governments just print (or tax) unlimited amounts of money and spend it?
Communism and socialism don't work because there's no incentive for citizens to produce more. Our country is stuck in the middle, trying to figure out how to take as much as possible from the producers to give to the non-producers without causing the producers to produce less. Democrats are generally non-producers who want to take money from "the rich" and Republicans are generally producers who want to keep all their own money.
.
I can go to the store and choose to buy any food I want. Washington holds a gun to my head, steals my dollar and gives it to their special interest to fuel their private plane. Net, I don't get my food nor choice. They burn the money.
"If government spending improved an economy why wouldn't all governments just print (or tax) unlimited amounts of money and spend it?"
And if government reduction helped the economy, why isn't anarchy state somalia the richest country in the world?
Why do you buy the facade of conservative vs liberal or Dem vs Republican. The Dems and Reps are two sides of the same coin minted by the banks.
Well, you're right that there really isn't a huge difference between Dems and Repubs.... But If we vote enough Dems in, a new party should emerge to the left of the democrats and over a few decades we'll get a more liberal government... But it's a long and arduous process with no guarantees.
I think it's awesome that Democrats have finally gotten around to embracing the idea that it's better for the economy if people keep and spend their own money instead of sending it to Washington as taxes.
How low do you all think the tax rate should go to help the economy even more?
Let's set the tax rate back to what BushII did, then we can shed another 5 millions jobs from our economy!
You must be logged in to comment. Log in or connect with
