Someone can check the math if they like, but.

[j2k4]

Cash for Clunkers


A vehicle at 15 mpg and 12,000 miles per year uses 800 gallons a year of gasoline.

A vehicle at 25 mpg and 12,000 miles per year uses 480 gallons a year.

So, the average clunker transaction will reduce US gasoline consumption by 320 gallons per year.

They claim 700,000 vehicles - so that's 224 million gallons/year.

That equates to a bit over 5 million barrels of oil.

5 million barrels of oil is about ¼ of one day's U.S. consumption, and 5 million barrels of oil costs about $350 million dollars at $75/bbl, so...

...the Obama administration spent $3 BILLION of our tax dollars to save $350 MILLION this year.

How good a deal was that???

[clocker]

Excellent j2, I see you've mastered the Republican "kindergarten math" version of policy analysis.

When you're ready to move up to "big boy" analysis you can also factor in the benefits to the manufacturing and sales sectors, the tax revenue both will generate and the myriad smaller benefits that will accrue.
Some will be long term- like decreased wear and tear, thus lower maintenance, on the road infrastructure due to the increase in smaller/lighter vehicles but, being long term, these will take a while to manifest and can be safely ignored by the Fox News 7 1/2 minute news cycle.

Nice going anyway though...a noble attempt to reduce a complex issue to the lowest common denominator.

[j2k4]

Excellent j2, I see you've mastered the Republican "kindergarten math" version of policy analysis.

When you're ready to move up to "big boy" analysis you can also factor in the benefits to the manufacturing and sales sectors, the tax revenue both will generate and the myriad smaller benefits that will accrue.
Some will be long term- like decreased wear and tear, thus lower maintenance, on the road infrastructure due to the increase in smaller/lighter vehicles but, being long term, these will take a while to manifest and can be safely ignored by the Fox News 7 1/2 minute news cycle.

Nice going anyway though...a noble attempt to reduce a complex issue to the lowest common denominator.


Perhaps you'd be so kind as to expand - tell us how you conflate a rough 900% cost overrun to things like road "infrastructure" savings, or "lower maintenance" (which in turn translates into less income for those whose jobs depend on the "maintenance" no longer required?)

Also please let us know when the auto dealers have recovered their 'clunker' money from SHITHEAD.

[clocker]

You're not ready, so, no.

[bigboab]

Cash for Clunkers


A vehicle at 15 mpg and 12,000 miles per year uses 800 gallons a year of gasoline.

A vehicle at 25 mpg and 12,000 miles per year uses 480 gallons a year.

So, the average clunker transaction will reduce US gasoline consumption by 320 gallons per year.

They claim 700,000 vehicles - so that's 224 million gallons/year.

That equates to a bit over 5 million barrels of oil.

5 million barrels of oil is about ¼ of one day's U.S. consumption, and 5 million barrels of oil costs about $350 million dollars at $75/bbl, so...

...the Obama administration spent $3 BILLION of our tax dollars to save $350 MILLION this year.

How good a deal was that???

I may have got this wrong Kev. But would you not have to multiply that sum by the lifetime of the vehicles to get the total savings.:)

[j2k4]

Total savings, you say.

Total savings....to whom, Bob?

[clocker]

To society, Kev.

You know, the other people who inhabit your world.

[j2k4]

To society, Kev.

You know, the other people who inhabit your world.

'Splain that - how "society" has benefited, I mean.

[clocker]

Lower emissions and oil consumption.

[Barbarossa]

Isn't it about stimulating the economy, or have I missed the point?

[bigboab]

To society, Kev.

You know, the other people who inhabit your world.

'Splain that - how "society" has benefited, I mean.

By automobiles using less gasoline*.



* do you like how I converted to Americanism just for you?:)

[clocker]

'Splain that - how "society" has benefited, I mean.

By automobiles using less gasoline*.


But don't you see that in KevWorld, this is not so much a benefit to society as a socialist imposition on Exxon and BP.

[j2k4]

Lower emissions and oil consumption.

Hmmm.

I guess that's comforting to think about while you're bankrupt.

[j2k4]

Isn't it about stimulating the economy, or have I missed the point?

The government has basically promised 3 billion dollars (that would be taxpayer money; the government has no other) to fund a rebate program to benefit the auto industry.

The money comes from the taxpayers but somehow has not made it to the dealerships who took back the clunkers in exchange for extending credits on new cars purchased.

The government has begun disallowing many of the deals made "after-the-fact", so the dealers are on the hook for money they'll never see.

All of this money has been "borrowed" from the taxpayers, who can only be sure they'll never recoup.

Any stimulative effect is highly selective and of limited and temporary effect.

It sure sounded good, though, huh?


So the bottom line is, as previously noted, 350 million in, 3 billion out.

[bigboab]

By automobiles using less gasoline*.


But don't you see that in KevWorld, this is not so much a benefit to society as a socialist imposition on Exxon and BP.

I never thought of that. Less sales means less dividend.:(