More than a dozen years ago, I bought a car. Even way back then, when gas was less than a buck twenty-five a gallon, I cared about how much gasoline I was consuming.
So I bought a car that got quite a bit more than 18 mpg.
Now, I've finally saved up enough money to buy another car.
And I'm getting screwed.
I'm getting shafted because I didn't buy a gas-guzzling pig. Because my car didn't contribute enough to pollution and global warming.
So, I'm not eligible for thousands of dollars in government subsidies when I buy my new car. Because I made a somewhat socially responsible choice last time. Because my car gets more than 18 mpg.
You know what? That sucks.
Tax dollars from all of us who didn't damage the environment enough to qualify, will go to help those who didn't give a rat's ass about getting good mileage.
So I can help those who made the most selfish of choices better afford their shiny new fuel-efficient vehicles.
I get that there's a social benefit to improving fuel efficiency of the vehicle fleet on the road. What I don't get is why there's a maximum mpg limit for trade-ins. Instead, why not require a certain percentage INCREASE in fuel efficiency from old to new car, no matter what the starting point? Wouldn't it be socially beneficial if I traded in my 25 mpg old car for a 40 mph hybrid?
By the way, I find it pretty bizarre that conservative pols are dissing this program, since it's their constituents who are most likely to be able to qualify in the first place. I guess they fear once someone buys a fuel-efficient car, next thing you know they'll be in favor of gay marriage and socialized medicine.