Clunkers Program

[Why?Town]

Here's what askcars.com says about the Focus (number three of the top ten cars bought through C4C)

quote:
"Since 2005, the Ford Focus has been assembled in Wayne, Mich. Even though it's built in the U.S., the Focus' domestic-parts content – the amount of American-sourced parts in the car – has been decreasing over the years; it now sits at 50 percent for the 2009 Focus.
The Focus has gone from 75 percent domestic-parts content in 2007 to 65 percent in 2008 and now 50 percent. This isn't unheard of with new cars, and it can change from year to year. In our American-Made Index we require at least 75 percent domestic-parts content to qualify; the 2007 Focus was ranked fourth in our June 2007 index"

[Towntalk]

When Barack Obama took the oath of office, the media was in a swoon. CNN for example was doing specials every 100 days into his administration, and a day hasn't gone by that the media hasn't attacked the presidents critics like a mother bear protecting her cubs. Obama could do no wrong.

Today, the print media at least is changing its tune suggesting that the honeymoon might be coming to an end.

The Washington Post:

Faith in Obama Drops As Reform Fears Rise
Editorial columnist Eugene Robinson writes: "Here's the least surprising news of the week: Americans are souring on the Democratic Party. The wonder is that it's taken so long for public opinion to curdle. There's nothing agreeable about watching a determined attempt to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory."

New York Times:
Columnist Paul Krugman writes about "Obama's trust problem" and notes that: "A backlash in the progressive base — which pushed President Obama over the top in the Democratic primary and played a major role in his general election victory — has been building for months. The fight over the public option involves real policy substance, but it's also a proxy for broader questions about the president's priorities and overall approach."

What is so interesting is that polls taken by both papers show Obama slipping.

Even CNN had to acknowledge: "A new poll suggests that Americans' faith in President Barack Obama to make the right decisions for the country is dropping.

Forty-nine percent of people questioned in a ABC/Washington Post survey released Friday say they have a great deal or good amount of confidence in the president's leadership, down 11 points from April. According to the poll, half of all Americans have little or no confidence in Obama's ability to make the right decisions, up ten points from April." 


MEMO: None of the cited sources can be accused of being right wing conservatives in the pocket of the Republican party.

[iwasthere]

i wondering how many more financial blunders that this D&R congress and this current presidential administration are going to make before the American people will wake-up and do an October 1917 surprise on them.

[Shar]

You should open the hood of that Ford Focus Jay.....there is a Mazda inside. 

[Towntalk]

Obama admin. to end cash for clunkers on Monday

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D9A6RBR00&show_article=1

The Transportation Department said Thursday the government will wind down the program on Monday at 8 p.m. EDT. Car buyers can receive rebates of $3,500 or $4,500 for trading in older vehicles for new, more fuel-efficient models.

Reports came in that dealers across the country have been stiffed by the government to the tune of millions of dollars.

[jay]

True Story

Today my friend drove up in her new Ford Focus which she bought through the Cash For Clunkers program.

A very nice car with one exception.  The tires were MADE IN CHINA.  Surely our domestic tire makers/workers would have benefitted if the car had been equipped with tires that were made by an American company and Made in the U.S.A.

[sfc_oliver]

So then the question becomes: Just what is an American car? One which is built in the states by Americans, or one which is built by an American company with parts made elsewhere? Or even one which is built elsewhere with American parts? This could really get confusing.

[AllanY2525]

Here is a link to a WikiPedia article for Honda assembly plants... looks like the
civic was built in some U.S. locations, and I know the Accord is manufactured
in Marysville, Ohio.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Honda_assembly_plants

Toyota has manufacturing plants all over the U.S.  In our global economy of
the 21st century, lots of foreign car makers are building models in the U.S.

Daimler A.G. , parent of Mercedes Benz, builds two models in Alabama.

[sfc_oliver]

But where are they built? Some Toyotas and Hondas are built here.

[jay]

While I like the fact that the Cash For Clunkers program is removing low mileage vehicles and replacing them with higher mileage vehicles, I don't feel this deal should have been given to foreign brand auto makers too.

Four of the top five selling cars under the Cash For Clunkers program are foreign brands.  Here is the list.

Ford Focus 
Toyota Corolla
Honda Civic
Toyota Prius 
Toyota Camry