My friend Bob came to me today with a question I couldn't answer.
Firstly, let me say that Bob is not a political animal. Truth be told, he could care less about politics. Just let him have his six pack and leave him alone.
But he knows that I am somewhat into the political scene and so he came to me with a question he has about this clunker car thing.
You see, Bob has a Saturn that is starting to nickle and dime him. He just this week put over $250 into it for a minor repair job and he knows that it is going to die sooner rather than later unless he continues to feed the mechanics that repair it.
He went to a new car dealer and wanted to trade it in under the Obama program 'cash for clunkers' That way he could get a brand new car with a 100,000 mile warranty with a monthly payment that is actually less than what he now pays for his Saturn.
He was turned away.
You see Bob is retired, lives on a fixed income and his credit rating isn't that good. Plus the Saturn he now owns doesn't qualify as a 'clunker' according to the government's specifications.
Yet, according to Bob, his neighbor down the street got $4500 through Obama's plan by trading in an older pickup he seldom used. This same neighbor also owns a new BMW and has a good job.
So Bob is pissed at his neighbor and is accusing Obama of using this plan to begin to divide the classes.
He wants me to explain to him why Obama is favoring the 'haves' over the 'have nots' with this plan.
I can't. So I told him that I would turn the question over to the many people that read this blog once in a while.
Can someone explain to me for Bob why this 'cash for clunkers' thing does not really favor the 'haves' over the 'have nots'? I thank you in advance.