To get an idea of how popular the "cash for clunkers" program is, consider this: Americans across the country rushed to buy new cars under the bonus program so fast after it took effect Monday that, by Friday, it ran out of the $1 billion allotted for it. The House of Representatives promptly reacted Friday afternoon, voting by a bipartisan 316 to 109 margin to pump another $2 billion into the program.
That's a reasonable response, but it still may not meet demand. It should, however, help spur auto sales for the moribund auto industry, and help car makers get a better idea of what cash-strapped consumers what in new car models. It will also improve the nation's fleet-mileage ratings by getting another half-a-million low-mileage older cars off the road in swaps for higher mileage vehicles.
The cash for clunkers program, officially known as the Car Allowance Rebate System, or CARS, was modeled after similar European stimulus programs. It was originally envisioned as a $4 billion effort to boost car sales by about 1 million units, and simultaneously reduce the nation's gasoline consumption and tailpipe emissions.
Opponents groused that the bill would wrongly benefit too few people, and possibly too many who could otherwise afford a new vehicle without a government subsidy. That argument ignored the staggering fall-off in new car sales, from a rate of 16 million a year to just under 10 million a year.
Advocates further urged passage of the program to help bolster the nation's vital auto industry and stem lay-offs of auto workers and plant closings. In the end, however, Congress allotted just $1 billion.
The pending infusion of new cash, if approved by the Senate next week, would cheer auto makers, dealers and, especially, consumers who thought they had already lost the chance to take advantage of the program.
Under its rules, car owners may trade in cars in operable condition, not more than 25 years old, and with an EPA gas mileage rating of no more than 18 mpg. Participants must use their clunker cash -- $3,500 to $4,500, depending on the mileage variance -- to buy a higher mileage car, and dealers must certify that they will destroy the cars and engines taken in as clunkers.
By those rules, the program seems reasonable and useful. It may turn out to be one of the most useful ways yet of using federal stimulus funding, bolstering the auto industry, and helping Americans get a newer, more fuel efficient ride. The Senate should be encouraged to approve the measure.
$3 billion at $3800 each average is about 800 thousand vehicles, that saves over 200 million gallons of gas each year, less pollution too.
Come on Times staff make up your mind. Which opinion are you going to go with? You can't have it both ways.
This article or "Expensive 'cash for clunkers'"?
THE CALLOUS & OFTEN CRUEL TREATMENT OF THE POOR (ProVerse, Parables, Fables)
Part 1: Introduction to Poverty
Editors Note: My beloved Brethren we have been called throughout our sojourn here on earth to document the trials and tribulations of the poor. “There was once a man called and commissioned to record the deeds, life and times of those that are said to have not. He had to have been in the bread line also to feel not the pain as he knew Jesus then and now.” Meanwhile we are not able to place working links when we post the FreedomJournal. We are also still experiencing problems posting our On-Line FreedomJournal. These problems continue since JANUARY 2009. Therefore we also refer you to the following articles that can be found on our Web Pages www.freedomjournalpress.com at Revelations in ProVerse 2009: No Hunger Among the Greedy; Rich in God Are The Multitudes: The Poor Majority Are Lost; Stimulus For The Rich & Poor; The Conscience of America Bleeds; Unconscious Hunger and A Note On Truth.
Greetings Brethren,
Peace be unto you. To the Church and believing Christians everywhere. To those that believe in the Bible as the supreme authority that governs all of humankind. In this we give thanks to God the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit that leads and guides us the straightway.
Beloved we have time and time again once more than once commissioned and ordained to render a report on the poor. Therefore as the world sets certain standards many people move upon God’s green earth as the destitute, impoverished, indigent, needy, penniless, poverty-stricken, underprivileged, miserable and shabby. Thus their story continues to unfold. But really who are these people?
Are you born poor or rich? Is wealth only counted up in material things? Are those born poor always able to move up the economic ladder in the land of the Free? Can one move up and down? Why are some rich and some poor? Just how is poverty (poor, Po) defined? Are there automatic built-in problems that embrace exploitation among all that are poor? Is love found among all people rich or poor, poor or rich? Is it ridiculous to note poverty as a state of mind?
A Faceless Man
The man who offered me a hand up I knew not his name. Meanwhile no one knew they were poor at birth however, many did know that they were rich as the rich spoke of such and lived in a way that lifted them up.
The poor saw beautiful sun filled skies and tasted the water at the cool and refreshing Indian Spring where many Native Americans had been looked upon as human beings and not as ruthless savages invented by other men.
All were not shiftless or lazy that did not amass wealth, money and things material. Some were held down in place by those that squatted on economic privilege as a mother hen on eggs that never hatched. Thus all were not rich or poor.
There had to be a balance and after all the rich and the poor were only in the eyes of the beholder. But many paid more for poverty as the hens and roosters of the chicken house looked for ways to cash in on an already broke cash cow.
But I saw love in all human beings, rich, poor, Black, Brown, White, Red, and Yellow but green became the number for many that frowned on those that had few shoes to wear and hardly clothes to place on the backs of their children.
It was dark of night and I could not see however, a hand reached out for me and those like me in a mood of compassion in all times of need and trouble. I saw not the face nor was the name important. I saw love at midnight and this was rich nor poor.
Cont. Part 2: Seeing The Destitution Of Wealth
Peace and Golden Paradise, Carl A. Patton a willing slave and servant of Almighty God and Christ Jesus writing for the FreedomJournal Press a God Fearing Free Press 2 August 2009 in the year of our Lord and Savior Christ Jesus.
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