If we consider that the vehicles traded in were 2/3rds consumed, one would have to divide that claimed fuel economy savings by 3 to arrive at a realistic figure. In other words, that savings was achieved only for the remaining one third life of the scrapped vehicles. If we further consider that the vehicles might have been replaced by even more efficient cars that are promised in two or three years, the fuel economy savings over the long term is nil. On top of that, there are large environmental costs for building a new vehicle that are not contemplated. The energy costs to produce the raw materials and manufacture the new cars is neglected.

This program spent $4000 per vehicle in order to remove useful productivity from society. It spent another $4000, the residual value of the used vehicles that were removed from circulation. So government effectively spent $8000 each of taxpayer money for a negligible improvement in fuel consumption.

The people who benefited are those who had spare cash and in a mood to spend. All that happened is they moved the purchase earlier a year. Those who are poor were damaged by the removal of affordable used cars from the supply.

We need to vote these spendthrifts out of office before they destroy what remains of America.

What struck me as odd was that the Secretary of Transportation is now calling Honda and Toyota “American Made” just to gin up support for his C.A.R.S. program.