Archive: Opinions

Much has been made of the 'Cash For Clunkers' program that President Obama has been advocating.  The way I see it the government wants to give my tax money away to people who can afford to buy cars.  The excuse is that it will boost the economy, but experts have expressed doubt on whether it will actually stimulate the economy or simply steal sales from the future.

I prefer Conan O'Brien's program .  The Tonight Show host is running a contest in which viewers write in or send videos arguing why their car should be blown to smithereens.  The winner will get to drive his or her car to Los Angeles to have it blown up on the air, and will also receive a brand new 2010 Lexus HS250h hybrid.

The O'Brien version has advantages and disadvantages over Obama's program.  First of all, no taxpayer money will be used.  Second, the clunker will be taken off the road in such a drastic way in front of millions of people that there will be absolutely no question of cheating on the part about making the old car undrivable.  Third, the winner won't have to worry about trading in a clunker for $4,500.  He gives away his old car, but gets the new one for free.

Oh and did I mention they are going to blow up a car?  How cool is that?

Hollywood takes a lot of heat for being too liberal and inserting itself into politics.  But here is an admittedly rare case where Hollywood has it right and can actually do something better than Washington.  I think more television shows should blow up cars.

Since Washington's new hobby is owning major car companies it is no surprise that they would come up with a half-cocked feel-good scheme to get more people to sell cars.  Aside from conflict of interest and fair trade issues, why not spend that money where it will truly do some good?  Here's an idea:  use it to extend unemployment for the zillion people who have lost their jobs in an economic downturn that isn't providing new ones for them.

We've watched trillions of dollars going down the tube like a ball on the last hole of a miniature golf course -- it quickly goes away never to be seen again.  The word 'clunker' can as easily describe the program as it does the trade-in as far as I'm concerned.

And the government isn't even going to blow up any cars!

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