YOUR COMMENTS

Let the Ouija boarders join the birthers, tenthers, and Republicant seers of all kinds. They know every single thing that Democrats think and do and their motivations for doing them - and they hate it. The clunkers program, so popular that Congress gave them more money to continue the effort, buoying up Ford Motor Company so that the looting party could take their stock money out before anyone discovers that their CEO's, like the others have no knowledge of how to build cars but are adept at manipulating the stock market and avoiding paying taxes. On ebay these days there is a new product for the Faux Noise crowd - truth cancelling ear phones. Now you can go out into the real world.
- Rob II, Deerfield

NSR in Epping - still under the spell of the Obama smoke & mirrors show I see. Nothing Obama has done or proposed has been successful. Nothing. Cash for clunkers only shifted demand and sales from next year and perhaps the year after to 2009. That did nothing for the auto industry, nothing for the economy and nothing for the environment. About all it accomplished was to add to the deficit and saddle future generations with more unreasonable debt. You obviously know and understand very little about economics and finance.
- Brian, Farmington

Dave, Sandwich. I can assure you, if taxes continue to rise, that’s less profit for my Company. When theirs less or reduced profit, we have to minimize or reduce expenses. Years ago it was called down sizing, now we call it “right sizing”. Can you guess what my number one expense is Dave?

But at least those “wealthy” didn’t get a tax break.
- Wally, Manchester, NH

If the highest federal income tax on people and businesses is NOT greater than 15 percent, it will be easier for people to afford appliances, cars, health care, health insurance, and other things. Businesses will be less likely to fire workers in our country and then make products in foreign countries that they then import to our country. Do people want to increase the probability that more companies will make products in our country and employ people in our country making the products?

If the federal government reduces federal income taxes on people and businesses, state governments will be better able to increase their taxes on people and businesses helping them to fund education, health care, infrastructure, energy development, energy transmission, and other things. I think 50 state governments spend money a lot better than the federal government.

If the federal government and state governments stop taxing interest from savings accounts, dividends, capital gains, and estates, it will be easier for people to afford appliances, cars, health care, health insurance, and other things. People will be able to save more money for their retirements. Americans and foreigners will be more likely to invest in our country and create jobs in our country. The more people working the more people paying into Social Security and Medicare. Businesses especially small businesses need capital to stay in business and pay their employees.

It makes more sense for the federal government to have low sales taxes on many products than to tax savings and investments. The low sales taxes could be used to help fund the military, Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, free health clinics, infrastructure, education, buses, passenger rail, freight rail, and other things. The sales taxes need to be low because if they are high consumption might significantly decrease and unemployment might increase.
- Ken Stremsky, Manchester, NH

Its funny to see the joy so many have as we voluntarily bankrupt America so that we can get a new dishwasher and a new car.

Government on every level is bankrupt - in the hole - Cities, towns, states, and the feds are out of money and you have the nerve to get on here and support more spending so you can get a dishwasher?!?!?

LOL. I only hope you're all alive to explain to your grandchildren how you willingly and happily forfieted their future.
- John II, Manchester

This is exactly the redistributive change President Obama spoke of when addressing Joe The Plumber. However, no one paid attention to the message because Joe The Plumber wasn’t really a licensed plumber.
- Wally, Manchester, NH

With all the ranting about how the program did not work you would think someone would have remembered to add that fuel guzzling vehicles were being removed. Pollution reduction counts as a slow success to some of us. Obviously, not many of those wanting the continued transfer of wealth from middle to upper class would even think of this as a win.
- Stephen, Sullivan

Steve Micke - the Wall St. fat cats are still getting those bonuses, and Obama has funneled more of our tax $$$ to them than Bush ever dreamed of.
- Tom, Campton

"Actually, Tom of Campton, the only idea that has been shown to be a complete lie is the Republican mantra that if you cut taxes on the rich, the economy will grow."

Please explain.

Obama is currently doing an excellent job proving that failing to pursue pro-growth policies such as tax cuts prevents the economy from growing, but this is not logically equivalent to your assertion.
- Tom, Campton

I've always had a problem with Cash4Clunkers. To me it seems to go against simple supply and demand economics. How can we push all of these new cars into a market already saturated with used and repossessed vehicles (see www.repofinder.com)? Now new cars are worth even less, we have more Americans in debt, and eventually more repossessions.
- Mike, Manchester

Brian, Lancaster - The only difference between how this administration is adding to the deficit and how the previous administration added to it is this administration is AT THE VERY LEST TRYING to do something for EVERYONE. The prior administration only tried to help big business and corporate executives.
- Steve Micke, Freedom

Its funny the only time you hear from a republican is when they are trying to stop someone from doing something to help the general population.

I do not know if the CFC program helped or hurt, I would rather my kids and grand kids have to pay for this kind of a program than have to pay for the bonses of the big corporations who had the republican party in their pockets.

And I obviously do not know if this new program is going to help or hurt. But at least this administraton is trying. What did the last administrationdo for us except plunder and pillage small business and people who make under $100,000.
- Steve Micke, Freedom

Actually, Tom of Campton, the only idea that has been shown to be a complete lie is the Republican mantra that if you cut taxes on the rich, the economy will grow.

Here's what actually happens: the revenue shortfall will grow, yes. The deficit will grow, yes. The debt will grow, yes. Number of dollars invested in risky, speculative markets will grow, yes.

But the economy? Not so much. In fact, it just may nosedive, a la 2008. So can we give it a rest now?

Not that facts have ever gotten in your way before....
- Dave, Sandwich

I'm looking forward to dollars for dishwashers, as I will replace mine, my mother's, and my father's, along with my father's refrigerator. Since I wasn't able to avail myself of the tax break for buying a vehicle over 6000 GVW offered by the previous administration, I'll get my tax break this way.

Pauline, Franklin -- Do you know the specific reason behind the repossession of the vehicles of which you speak? I'd be surprised, as I believe that this would violate some confidentiality laws between the lender and the person who is having the vehicle repossessed. Perhaps the person lost their job, was bankrupt by medical bills, etc?

You are right, though, about speaking Chinese. keep buying Chinese junk from Wally World and the Christmas Tree Shops (or Sikorsky, who just took delivery of the first S-76 ++ airframe manufactured by Chinese state owned China Aviation Industry Corporation II, and you'll need Chinese as a second language.
- Texter, Newfields

It should also be pointed out that auto sales crashed after "Clunkers" ended, as predicted, so there was no permanent stimulative effect on the economy.

But I am not surprised that there are dead-enders who will defend "Clunkers" - there are still "global warming" dead-enders who defend the hoax even in the wake of Climategate.

Hilarious.
- Tom, Campton

Dig us deeper into debt, print more dollars. Get people to turn in durable old MADE IN USA appliances for cheap Chinese ones that will break in a year.

Brilliant.

If you haven't got it already, buy precious metals, hard assets, because the dollar is going to be like Zimbabwe's by the time Obamao is done with it.
- Mike R., Bedford

The UL said essentially the same thing in an editorial against "cash for clunkers" a couple of months ago - namely that all "cash for clunkers" did was shift auto sales from winter and spring of 2010 to the summer of 2009.

None of the commenters seemed to notice the obvious flaw in the UL's logic - that their criticism was based on a mere prediction of events that may or may not happen in half a year. Just a bunch of people complaining about Obama and government spending.

Meanwhile, we spend significantly more than $300 million PER WEEK in Iraq, and I can't remember the Union Leader ever starting an editorial with "here we go again" after the Pentagon asks for another $90 billion in "supplemental" war spending. The economic priorities of "conservatives" never ceases to amaze me.
- Dan, Manchester

NSR--"the program didn't squander anything."

You're hilarious. But the sad truth is the Clunker program cost taxpayers $24,000 per trade-in. Even worse, it enticed people with paid-for vehicles into more debt--and during a time when people are losing their jobs. This government is not working for us. It is working for itself, the unions, and Boy Geithner's Wall Street hoodlums.

The shame, disgrace, and anti-Americanism you speak of should rightly be ascribed to those who support these corrupt power-mongers and their underhanded schemes to dupe the people with cheap bribes and false hope.
- Susie, Horseshoe Bay, TX (NH native)

"The program didn't squander anything - it did exactly what it was intended to do. Get give people a legit incentive to buy a new car and get rid of broken down cars."

Yes, at the cost of $24,000 per additional sale. I wouldn't call that 'working'.
- Tom, Campton

Another sure-to-fail idea from the Chairman Mao Appreciation Society, aka the Obama administration. And, as always, this idea involves borrowing, printing, and spending money.

If anything good comes from Obama, it will be that the failed Keynesian ideas will be discredited once and for all. Good riddance.
- Tom, Campton

Energy efficient appliances have built in rebates already??

Why does Uncle Sugar need to stick his nose in?
- Harry, Atkinson

The best part about cash for clunkers was we could not afford to take part in it because of the poor economy it was claimed to help, but we do get to help pay for it with our taxes. Taxes that are growing despite the claims made during the election.

I must consider running for congress. Not only do I get to vote on my own pay raise but I’ll get to see what its like to have money to spend again. And the best part will be that it’s everyone else’s money. The final perk will be getting an over paying job with one of the special interest groups who benefited from my spending at the end of my reign of working for the people which I just happen to be one of. I will justify it all by convincing myself you elected me because I’m smarter than you and therefore will have no reason to listen to all you peasants once I’m in office.

Our leadership seems to have a spending disorder and all who stay silent will get what they deserve or their children and grandchildren will pay the price for them. But for now keep pretending we can spend an unlimited amount of money because those who lived before us worked hard and created wealth and now we are entitled to squander that wealth.
- Deb, Derry

Now when you compare it to the TARP program the cash for clunkers program clearly failed to shovel free money into the accounts of the billionaire stock brokers and bankers who needed a bail out. They have private limosines which just didn't qualify. How about a new cash for private jet airliners program so that these cash strapped titans of industry can go back to flying to Washington to stand in line for more handouts of free cash. That is all our corporate leaders seem to be able to accomplish these days. Paying no corporate taxes was just a sop to the few lacking tax lawyers.
- Robert, Deerfield

NSR could not be more correct. I'm going to cancel this paper. Enough is enough.
- David, Hooksett

Well, China does need more metal...
As for the clunkers program- the effects from it have already started.
The repo men have seen an increase in new car repos such as the ones purchased in this program.
Facts- yes I have them. I know the companies doing the reposessions.
This program did waste our money as it demanded that the old cars get crushed (so China can have the metal) and not be used to help the less fortunate families keep their cars on the road.
But no one cares about those people anyway, certainly not the government.
As for NSR- talking about FACTS is not disgracing anything. We have 2 parties for a reason. Right now all Americans have are precious nickels and dimes and our grandkids won't even have that.
I said it before- start learning chinese- we are going to need it.
- Pauline, Franklin

I've got one for you. How about cash for clunkers III via the purchase of clunker newspapers like the one in Manchester, NH! Of course, the program should require the demise of whatever is bought and that would be great in this case. It's demise would certainly reduce the number of sacrificed trees and electrons used to distribute the dribble the paper produces.
- Gary L. Kerr, Chichester

NSR, you are truly on the wrong side of history. Your rants about people who disagree with you somehow being haters would be laughable if it were not so sad. So much for tolerance and diversity. You're a liberal trying to look patriotic. It's not working. You support anti-American ideas then accuse the opposition of being a disgrace to the flag. Your colors do not sound red, white and blue to me, just red.

Steven, I believe it's YOU who should do some reading. Start with US History. Keynesian economics does not work. The only way to truly pull out of a recession, which has worked in every recession since WWII when it was attempted - is to cut government spending while simultaneously enacting broad based tax cuts. Both need to be applied, not just one or the other. This is where Bush went wrong. He passed the broad based tax cuts (the tax cuts that most of us got yet somehow liberals claimed were only "for the rich") but he increased government spending. As for Obama, he gives me the impression he's trying hard to ruin the economy, not fix it.
- Mike, Temple

Is there no bottom to the pit of debt this administration and congress are digging for this country? I find it astounding that they keep coming up with more ways to spend money that we don't have.

"Clunkers I" did exactly as this piece claims. Those who took "advantage" of it were most likely affluent enough to grab the handout by purchasing a new vehicle sooner rather than later. On the other hand, the program eliminated used vehicles that lower-income folks could have bought. And just how much did it really do to reduce greenhouse gases? Felt and sounded good, though. That's what really matters in D.C.

Next it's going to be health care and then energy. Democrats better hope all this spending, taxing, borrowing, and strong-arming works out because they own all this "change". If things go wrong, they'll be held accountable at the polls. There are more independent voters in this country than either Republicans or Democrats. And we've got the memory of an elephant and the temperament of a donkey.
- Brian, Lancaster

I have to wonder what world NSR and other like NSR inhabit. As long as they get something for nothing (or so they wish to believe) then everything is great. The Cash for clunkers did generate a lot of activity but as has been mentioned, most of that activity was just people moving up thier intent to buy anyway. There may have been some who got rid of thier "clunker" who would have otherwise held onto it but according to most of the news articles I've read there where not a lot of these sales. I read about cash for appliances several weeks ago and suspect it will do the same thing. People who have been thinking about upgrading the kitchen will do so anyway, those who can't afford it won't be able to unless the government gives them everything. To those who think the government throwing money at them is the anser to all our economic problems I have to ask where do you think that money comes from. Its yours, and the government takes it every April 15.
- Jeff, Goffstown

Good morning Socialists NSR and Stephen from Sullivan! It's sure nice to see your rants again!

Our problem is that it is not the government's job to buy and sell cars, even though it does help the union thugs who donate to the Dems. It's not the government's job to entice people to buy anything, even efficient electrical appliances! That's our job, and if we can't afford it, we don't buy it.

That great cash for clunkers program really proved to be quite efficient use of our tax dollars. We paid 3 billion dollars to give some business to the unions who make cars. What a waste.
- Melvin, Keene

NSR and Stephen

Did you miss the entire point of this. Obviously you did. The cash for clunkers program did nothing but shift purchases that would have been made later in the year to bunch them up right now. As was seen by the dramatic fal off in vehicle purchases in the month following. In addition it took people with paid for perfectly good cars and put them right back in more debt for new cars. Fairness you say Stephen. Or country was established to ensure fairness of opportunity not results. Friedman understood this. However you hail a system that in Europe has produced double digit unemployment long before the US did.
- Brian, Wakefield

And your point, probably misguided as it often is, is what? You must be one that follows the failed (devastating is more accurate) Friedman theory or doctrine (cult to the greedy). Spend more time reading and adapting Keynesian ways and you might begin to understand the difference between right-and-wrong (fairness v. greed a/k/a good and evil). Instead of casting stones, what about real solutions? Something you seem to be short of...
- Stephen, Sullivan

Ha. I'm starting to think that this government is the biggest clunker!
- Rich, Manchester

What are you talking about? Who wrote this editorial, and can you please move to Pakistan, to join the rest of the people who hate us? You're just like them, so go there already.

The program didn't squander anything - it did exactly what it was intended to do. Get give people a legit incentive to buy a new car and get rid of broken down cars.

It worked. It worked fine - but what do you care? You never have solutions, just crying and complaints.

But since the editorial writer despises anything good or useful - if it's supported by a Democratic administration - of course you hate it.

That's all you have to offer - more hate and misery.

Those who writes editorials for the Union Leader are without question, some of the most clearly anti-American individuals around.

All you love are your precious nickels and dimes.

You shame the country. You disgrace the flag.
- NSR, Epping, NH