Once again: why is the solution to GET RID OF the problem cars? Fixing them is SO MUCH BETTER all around. The government has really put consumers in a bad position when it comes to emissions. You HAVE to meet stringent (over-stringent, I say) standards, but emissions equipment is EXPENSIVE and finnicky and has a shorter lifespan than most cars it's used on. How about instead of giving someone $1000 for a new car or $500 to fix the old car, the feds buy them some new cats (which you CAN NOT buy for $500)? Wow, problem solved.JimmyMethod wrote:As for the reasons for doing it, how are those bad? Of the cars on the road, these 'junkers' drive 25% of miles driven, however, they account for 75% of the pollution. Doing the math, if you were to replace them all with modern vehicles, that would cut auto pollution in half(!!!!!) (for civil vehicles, the study didn't include commercial vehicles).
By encouraging people to drive newer cars, you also let them buy less gas, and therefore spend money on other things that put more $ back into domestic hands, too, instead of sending the money overseas.
As for the fuel economy comment, that's straight bunk. Newer cars ARE NOT MORE EFFICIENT. Age does not enter into it at all. To say that getting people into new cars would reduce fuel consumption is a gross generalization that is EXACTLY what is wrong with this proposal.
I will not argue with that. It's petty. And you know what? I don't care. I don't feel that the government should be meddling in these affairs. It's not their place. Last I checked, this was America, not the Soviet Union. The recent turn of events toward green-thinking and oil conservation are causing everyone to ignore the fact that over the last 35 years our auto industry is becoming more and more government controlled. ENOUGH. This is the CONSUMERS' place to make decisions. Legislation will not only NOT solve the "problem" it's targeted at, but will cause MORE problems. This is just another unacceptable legislation affecting "action" for the sake of being seen to act that will have negative affects on the auto industry. As a car enthusiast and an American citizen, I refuse to accept it.JimmyMethod wrote:(read: that seems really petty).
