Best of Clunkers Could Have Been Useful

More than a few of the cars and trucks traded in at Anderson Dealerships as part of the "Cash for Clunkers" government program, are no where near deserving of their title or the junk heap. More than a few low mileage cars less than 10 years old dot the parking lots of dealerships awaiting their day of destruction. Certainly the goals of increasing fuel efficent cars on the highway and jumpstarting new car sales had merit. But many of the vehicles which will end up scrapped by government edict could have been used by local charities to provide reliable, and in many cases stylish transportation.

With a simple addendum to the program, the government could have allowed deals to designate the most desirable "clunkers" to be given to non-profit organizations who could have put them into service improving our community.

In an article at japolnik.com, says the "clunkers" are of very little use to recyclers and points out: "points out the current scrap value is $140 a ton, which means a two-ton vehicle is only worth $280 as scrap. Subtract out the estimated cost of $200 to detox the vehicle as required by law and the total value is only $80 per car if nothing can be sold on it."

Read the entire article here.

The $3 billion program helped sell 625,000 new vehicles and certainly took some older less envirnomentally friendly cars and trucks off the road. But better planning could have led to benefits which don't show up ledgers.