Running on Empty, 'Clunkers' Program Highlights Government Incompetence, Critics Say - Political News - FOXNews.com

Running on Empty, 'Clunkers' Program Highlights Government Incompetence, Critics Say - Political News - FOXNews.com: "'This is not good for economic growth,' said Dan Mitchell, a senior fellow in economics at the Cato Institute. 'You're simply getting people to use existing income to spend on cars. Getting people to spend more of their money on cars mean they will have less money to spend on other things.'

Economic growth, Mitchell argued, is not getting people to spend more money on products, it's getting them to have more income. Mitchell also believes the program is counterproductive for the auto industry down the road because the acceleration in car purchases will precede a 'big downturn in the future.'

'Giving someone a shot of heroin is not good for their long term health,' he told FOXNews.com.

The program, Mitchell added, shows that the government is 'incompetent.'"

'"It's hard to say they're incompetent when the program is creating jobs, stimulating the overall economy and reducing emissions. Where's the loss here?" he said. "You can say it's not administered as well. But this is like picking at gnats when you look at the big picture."'

The loss is the billion dollars it cost to do those things!