Comments on: Cash for Clunkers Clunks http://www.showmedaily.org/2009/08/cash-for-clunkers-clunks.html Advancing liberty with responsibility by promoting market solutions for Missouri public policy Thu, 24 May 2012 00:36:33 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Veen http://www.showmedaily.org/2009/08/cash-for-clunkers-clunks.html/comment-page-1#comment-3220 Veen Fri, 07 Aug 2009 07:50:44 +0000 http://www.showmedaily.org/?p=6063#comment-3220 1) Cars that run have value. 2) This program removes those cars from useful service. In the most basic analysis possible, without considering any of the (very valid) more sophisticated criticisms of distortion and inefficient allocation, it should be very obvious that Cash for Clunkers creates a loss for society. From a voluntaryist perspective, are people really excited to be required to buy brand new cars for people that already have cars? 1) Cars that run have value.
2) This program removes those cars from useful service.

In the most basic analysis possible, without considering any of the (very valid) more sophisticated criticisms of distortion and inefficient allocation, it should be very obvious that Cash for Clunkers creates a loss for society.

From a voluntaryist perspective, are people really excited to be required to buy brand new cars for people that already have cars?

]]> By: Denise Thornton http://www.showmedaily.org/2009/08/cash-for-clunkers-clunks.html/comment-page-1#comment-3208 Denise Thornton Thu, 06 Aug 2009 12:53:11 +0000 http://www.showmedaily.org/?p=6063#comment-3208 We can all drive more fuel efficient cars starting today without spending a dime – it’s a matter of adjusting our driving habits. I learned a ton at an eco-driving workshop at this summer’s Midwest Renewable Energy Fair. Check out the top ten tips at http://digginginthedriftless.wordpress.com/2009/06/23/10-ways-to-cut-gas-costs-and-save-the-planet/ We can all drive more fuel efficient cars starting today without spending a dime – it’s a matter of adjusting our driving habits. I learned a ton at an eco-driving workshop at this summer’s Midwest Renewable Energy Fair. Check out the top ten tips at http://digginginthedriftless.wordpress.com/2009/06/23/10-ways-to-cut-gas-costs-and-save-the-planet/

]]> By: Bill H http://www.showmedaily.org/2009/08/cash-for-clunkers-clunks.html/comment-page-1#comment-3200 Bill H Wed, 05 Aug 2009 19:24:27 +0000 http://www.showmedaily.org/?p=6063#comment-3200 This is also reminiscent of the corn-for-ethanol program. It sounds good at first glance, but the downstream consequences are much worse than the benefits of the program. Using ethanol to replace some of the oil we import sounds like a great idea. However, it takes a significant amount of energy to grow the corn - fuel for the tractors and other farm machines, fertilizer and perhaps even energy to help with irrigation. (And where does that energy originate - why, oil for the most part!) The net benefit for energy is minimal, at best. There may actually be a net increase in pollution. Oh, and food prices go up, causing the greatest impact on the poor. This has also created food shortages in some areas of the world. But - we sure did have good intentions with this program! This is also reminiscent of the corn-for-ethanol program. It sounds good at first glance, but the downstream consequences are much worse than the benefits of the program.
Using ethanol to replace some of the oil we import sounds like a great idea. However, it takes a significant amount of energy to grow the corn – fuel for the tractors and other farm machines, fertilizer and perhaps even energy to help with irrigation. (And where does that energy originate – why, oil for the most part!) The net benefit for energy is minimal, at best. There may actually be a net increase in pollution. Oh, and food prices go up, causing the greatest impact on the poor. This has also created food shortages in some areas of the world.
But – we sure did have good intentions with this program!

]]> By: Joe Nonnenkamp http://www.showmedaily.org/2009/08/cash-for-clunkers-clunks.html/comment-page-1#comment-3199 Joe Nonnenkamp Wed, 05 Aug 2009 18:08:23 +0000 http://www.showmedaily.org/?p=6063#comment-3199 Don't forget that this also takes used cars off the market, some of which run perfectly well. The poor are far more likely to be buying used cars, so they are the ones most hurt by this stupid corporatist program. Don’t forget that this also takes used cars off the market, some of which run perfectly well. The poor are far more likely to be buying used cars, so they are the ones most hurt by this stupid corporatist program.

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