Is ‘cash for clunkers’ a sham?
Posted: August 4th, 2009 | Author: Jon Coon | Tags: government policy | No Comments »Over the course of the last week I have inevitably run into a multitude of news reports on the “Cash for Clunkers” program. One particular report that featured the plight of the auto wreckers was very intriguing and has not been addressed by many of those involved in the debate:
Watch the video here
Although I am not an expert in this field I find it disturbing that there is not focus by the media on how the decommission process is working. Instead, we hear how sales are increasing and auto dealers and makers are expierencing increased sales. Even President Obama explained that the program is “helping consumers and the auto industry.” But what about the waste? Can all the car parts be reused?
I figured that this was the case until I watched the video above and learned that the dealers are required to “kill” the motors of cars that are running perfectly fine. Essentially making the motors and transmissions useless and evaporating the incentive of the wreckers. So what happens to the parts that cannot be used and recycled? The pieces too dangers to be thrown in a landfill? Hopefully they don’t end up like the millions of discarded computer parts.
