First, I like President Obama, these are not "you suck" letters, just my dissatisfaction with how the CARS program fell short of it true intent. The first letter I sent on the White House website really fell short of how I felt, so the next day I sent a more detailed letter. I doubt he will personally see and read them, but at least I put in my 2 cents worth.

President Obama,

Thank you for the CARS program it has been a great boost for our country and it’s economy, however due to it’s brevity I and I’m sure like many others American who wished to participate were unprepared and unable to take advantage of this program. I have been a bit out of touch and first heard about it when it was first ending. I had hope with the announcement of the three-month extension, but it was short lived barely two weeks and it was out of my reach and gone again. I can only hope it is not gone forever, the newest car I have is 10 years old and now needs more and more attention to keep it maintained. The CARS program was my only hope of getting a new vehicle that meets my needs, any time for at least 5 years or more. I understand the program was costly and not popular with conservatives, but shouldn’t we be willing to commit to the American people at least a fraction of the many trillions the past administration has spend on things that did not and do not help the average American. I would hope that a few more short intervals of this program announced far in advance are worth considering. Thank you for your time and thank you for all the good you are doing for us and will I’m sure continue to do in the future.


Sincerely,
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TSgt, USAF Retired

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This is a more expanded commentary and is in conjunction with or addendum to a letter I sent through this site yesterday.



President Obama,



In regards to the now closed CARS program commonly known as Cash 4 Clunkers, thought it was a great idea the implementation of the program was like tossing meat to a pack of jackals. The financially strong who needed it the least and could or were going to buy a new car with out it got theirs first, leaving less for those who truly need this program to get a new car. In my estimate, the program was both a success and a failure. I succeeded in getting less efficient cars permanently off the road, in that it couldn't have done better. You succeeded in improving new car sales and boosted the economy, but failed to make the most of it by not having better control in getting it to who really needed it. In this, you let down many of the people who could have benefited the most, which I see as the biggest failure of this program.

Imagine new car sales as a big round table, those who are seated at the table are already going to buy, behind them are the people who will next buy, continuing out are those less likely, followed by those who it's just out of reach, and on like that. What happens when you dump money on the table? The people nearest grab first whether they need it or not, the further out you are the less likely you'll get to the table before it's all gone. However, it's just those further out people who need it the most. I ask you Mr. President is that a fair and balance program? I believe that an income restriction would have allowed the monies to last longer and there would still being money for the program now, resulting in more cars sold in the long run, as the people who could and were going to buy a new car still would have bought with out the monies. This would have given many more people who needed it a chance to participate, rather than being shut out because the greedy got theirs first, there by increasing the over all total new car sales. To me it seems more like feeding the rich at the expense of the poor yet again.

Yes, I am one of those people who didn’t get to the table in time and I have bitter feels about not getting to participate because of the shortness of the program, I feel that twinge of lost opportunity every time I see a new car go by. If I’d had more time to gather monies for a cash down payment or work on convincing someone I know to cosign the size of loan I needed, I would have had a chance at a loan or at least a lease to buy a vehicle that fit my needs. I have personally heard people say thing like; “I didn’t need it, but it’s money in my pocket”. None of these selfish people even cared that if they took it when they didn’t need it; it took money away from someone less fortunate who did, as funds were finite. I am disappointed in this administration for not have the foresight to predict this very common of behaviors and gear the program towards those that need it the most.

The measure of success of the program should not be in that just anybody took the money towards a new car because there was no doubt that all the funds would be used also the resulting economic improvements were not in doubt. Success should be measured in how many did who would not have or been able to buy otherwise, that is where the true boost in sales would have come from. Also there is going to be a backlash slump, because many who were going to buy later anyway, bought now so they could take funds they didn't need, reducing the over all long term new car sales. I feel it is only fair and in our best interest to run the program again with more control such as income restrictions and announce it far in advance giving those who need the boost a better chance to financially prepare and not be shut out again when funds ran out far to quickly, because much of it was snatched up by the hands of the greedy. This would also help to fill the backlash of decreased sale due to people buying now who regardless would have bought later on their own anyway. I implore you President Obama, give the rest of us who still want to buy a new car under this program a fair shake, get even more older cars off the road permanently and avoid the inevitable backlash decrease in future sales. Thank you for your time.



Sincerely,
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TSgt, USAF Retired