'Cash for Clunkers' screwing people?

In a not so surprising told-you-so moment, information has emerged suggesting that the ever popular Cash for Clunkers program has paid out a mere two percent of the claims filed by dealers. Not only frustrating dealers, but also screwing people with four out of five applicants being rejected for what can be best described as 'minor oversight'. In a story on fox news, we learn that many dealers are getting extremely frustrated by the overwhelmingly slow response by the federal government in handling applications. A staff of just over two hundred people appears to be woefully insufficient in determining whether a car is a clunker, how much to rebate and other pressing matters so very vital to our economy. Despite Congress approving an additional two billion dollars, the process has stalled due to red tape. A government program has stalled due to red tape? Why, this simply cannot be, must be a mistake, seems like Fox News is simply slandering the current administration. Right-wing bastards.

This particular story is only relevant given the current health-care debate and what role our government will play in determining and providing health insurance to citizens. Without delving into the silliness of paying people to buy cars at the expense of others, this administration has given us a free sneak peak into what happens when our federal government is tasked with handling mountains of paper work. I am sure the dealers have nothing else better to do than to file stacks of papers, but other than individuals having to wait indefinitely for $3,500-$4,500, the damage seems to be limited. Imagine however if the so called "public option" falls under the same sort of pitfalls and we have citizens rejected for procedures due to 'minor oversight'. Granted those insured via private means have nothing to worry about, except that all private insurance will be subjected to a government run exchange program and we still have no idea whether or not employers will begin dropping private carriers (why pay for private insurance anymore?). Under either of those two options American citizens are facing a rapidly dwindling private insurance pool and a public option staffed by incompetent federal employees traversing a web of bureaucratic tape hell.

If the prospect of being treated like a clunker rubs you the wrong way or the idea of wheeling in your grandmother to get a rebate on a future surgery sounds morbid, perhaps you should get off your rusty behind and voice your opinion?

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