Whoops—'Cash for Clunkers' Actually Hurt the Environment

Back in 2009, President Obama’s “Cash for Clunkers” program was supposed to be a boon for the environment and the economy. During a limited time, consumers could trade in an old gas-guzzling used car for up to $4,500 cash back towards the purchase of a fuel-efficient new car. It seemed like a win for everyone: the environment, the gasping auto industry and cash-strapped consumers.

 

Though almost a million people poured into car dealerships eager to exchange their old jalopies for something shiny and new, recent reports indicate the entire program may have actually hurt the environment far more than it helped.

According to E Magazine, the “Clunkers” program, which is officially known as the Car Allowance Rebates System (CARS), produced tons of unnecessary waste while doing little to curb greenhouse gas emissions.

Read more at Yahoo! News Read More......

Caution: Cash for Clunkers and Your Computer

Hat tip: Lou Copes

UPDATE: Government removed the frightening disclaimer/user agreement presented in this video. The question now is, "Is the rescission retroactive to include information already gleaned from dealers' computers?" See the disclaimer [and stick it to the Car Czar]:

From Glenn Beck, 8/3/2009: When dealers logged in to apply for the cash part of the "cash for clunkers" program, the site cars.gov/dealership prompted them with the warning:

"This application provides access to the DOT CARS system. When logged on to the CARS system, your computer is considered a federal computer system and is property of the United States government... users have no explicit or implicit expectation of privacy."

"Any or all uses of this system and all files on this system may be intercepted, monitored, recorded, copied, audited, inspected and disclosed to authorized CARS, DOT and law enforcement personnel, as well as authorized officials of other agencies, both domestic and foreign."

"By using this system, the user consents to such interception, monitoring, recording, copying, auditing, inspection, and disclosure at the discretion CARS or the DOT personnel."

Why in God's name would you click "accept" to that? Read More......