Everyone these days seems to be so worried about healthcare they seem to have let the Cash For Clunkers program go by the wayside. The government too, it seems, has forgotten about it.
Cash For Clunkers was to offer rebates of $4500 on vehicles with 18mpg or less. Trade it in for a more fuel-efficient vehicle, and drive away happy. The dealers would be happy with a $4500 check from the government, you would be happy with a $4500 rebate from the dealer, and everyone wins.
Well, not really. Seems the government has yet to pay any of the rebates to the dealers. Consequently, many dealers are opting out of the program. According to the Greater New York Automobile Association, over half of their dealers quit the program because the governement has yet to pay. One dealer was quoted as being on the phone (and on hold) for over an hour with the reimbursement office, only to be disconnected.
In Florida, the same story. The Florida Automobile Association is leaving it up to its member-dealers whether they want to continue the program. One dealer, Phil Smith Chevrolet in Ft. Lauderdale, has processed 30 clunkers and has yet to see one check from the government.
Hopefully this will get sorted out. This program was designed to help the American automakers, and the fact the Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic are in the top spots for these new deals is odd, to say the least. No matter, it will be sorted out and everyone will eventually get their money.
Don't let this dissuade you from believing the government can reimburse doctors and hospitals in a timey manner with any new health care reform. Single-payer, Co-ops, whatever the plan ends up being, you can be sure of one thing: the government will take care of it eventually.
Thanks for the comment. I just wonder about the government's ability to do anything in a timely manner these days, that's all. I'm trying to be objective in all of this, and yet I keep coming back to the incompetence and waste inherent in 'the system'. Thanks again, Steve.
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