Cash for Clunkers Fuels Anger

There’s a story on the FoxNews website explaining how Cash for Clunkers is ending as of Monday . Many are jumping up and down in jubilation calling this wealth redistribution program a success; I see it as nothing more than government assisted theft.

‘President Barack Obama said in an interview Thursday that the program has been “successful beyond anybody's imagination”’

I suppose the definition of “success” should be re-examined in light of such a statement. Did Obama mean that the government had successfully used taxpayer money, money which had been earned by some individuals and then handed it over to other individuals in order to satisfy their desire to purchase a vehicle which they otherwise should have financed on their own?

Think about it; each person who “took advantage” of Cash for Clunkers bought into the idea of “money for nothing”, it’s “government money”, rather than acknowledging the fact that someone else actually earned that money and paid taxes on it; that’s how it became “government money”.

New vehicles purchased under the Cash for Clunkers program required the government to unfairly enforce a graduated tax code in order to separate money from those who rightfully earned that money to reward those who simply wanted more.

Each time you sit in that new car purchased with money stolen from your neighbor; ask yourself, what else will you encourage your government to steal to help pay for items you think you’re entitled to have? Will you only steal money, remember, you’re a co-conspirator in league with the tax collector, will you only steal from your neighbors to help purchase prescription drugs; after all, those drugs are very expensive? Will you only steal money to pay the rent on your Section 8 housing, acknowledging that someone else is picking up the tab even though you don’t know their name? The list is getting longer; when do we stop robbing Peter to pay Paul all in the name of entitlements through taxation.

If folks learned to budget, even with a limited income, there would be enough for rent, utilities and basic foods if they cut out frivolous expenses like cable for big screen high definition television, cell phones, fancy high dollar cross trainer tennis shoes, home delivered pizza, family vacations and even the car; opting to use public transportation. It might require moving to a smaller house or apartment closer to a major thoroughfare but it would make a limited budget work without stealing from your neighbor. I’ll bet you might even be able to afford minimal health insurance coverage; but that’s no fun and anyway, the county emergency room has to treat you regardless on ability to pay.

Responsible individuals, and there seems to be a dwindling supply of them, responsible individuals put off purchasing a new car until they first can afford to do all the other less fun things; rent, utilities, food, clothing, health insurance and all the other living expenses. My five year old truck is paid for and maintained with regular oil changes, brake jobs, transmission tune ups, protective wax for the paint and even insurance. I’m willing to drive my truck until the wheels fall off, which should be another five years, maybe more; so don’t pull up next to me in your new car paid for with Cash for Clunkers stolen money and show off that which you didn’t earn and don’t deserve; it only fuels my anger.