UAW Says Cash For Clunkers Worked For Both The Environment And Auto Industry

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.laborradio.org/node/11800

By Doug Cunningham

The government’s Cash For Clunkers program is ending. The United Auto Workers union says it was a popular and successful program that worked. The union says the result of trading in so many clunkers is higher fuel economy, lower carbon emissions and an increase in auto industry production and employment. The UAW says it looks forward to continuing to work with the Obama administration to protect our environment and keep the U.S. auto industry moving forward.

[mdmc]

1. it didn't work for me

my jelopy needs more work on it then it is worth. But it gets "such good gas mileage" that it is not a clunker. Yet it wouldn't pass NYS inspection, so technically it would get 0 "legal" miles, as the car is not road worthy.

[AndyA]

2. No, it did not work for the environment.

Functional vehicles were removed from service far before their time.

In disabling the vehicle, the engines spewed foul, noxious pollutants INTO THE ATMOSPHERE.

The disabled vehicle must now be TOWED to the salvage, often located many miles away from the dealership. Tow trucks DO NOT GET GOOD GAS MILEAGE. And the miles being traveled to and from the dealership are miles (and gas) that would not otherwise be used.

Multiply this by--what--750,000 or more vehicles, and you have a huge environmental MESS!

This was done to jump start auto industry sales. Nothing more. The gas saved by the new vehicles replacing the old ones on the road will take many, many years to equal out. And, like a heroin addict, the fix is only temporary. Auto sales will drop again, and another "deal" will have to be made.

[Craftsman]

3. In the long run it will not work for the auto industry, Workers, or tax payers

I am proof. I used C4C to get a new ford. I was going to get on in the next 10 to 12 months anyway. They got this sale this year taken from next at the expense of the taxpayer. With C4C it was no longer cost effective to patch up my old jeep for another inspection.