The federal "Cash for Clunkers" program has won over many car owners, but the program has been a nightmare for auto dealers.
Yes, car sales are up, and the majority of autos traded for more fuel-efficient models, while not at the top of the gas-guzzler list, are not thrifty at the fuel pump.
The problem for dealers is getting reimbursed by the government.
Cash for Clunkers is not a tax write-off. Motorists who trade their old vehicles for new ones get a $3,500 to $4,500 in price. They make their best deal, and the money is subtracted from the total at the dealership.
The dealership, not the consumer, gets the money.
Reimbursement for some dealers is late. Filing for the money is supposed to be done electronically, but the system is jammed and overloaded.
Since the program is designed to increase new-car sales for a struggling industry, making dealerships wait for the clunker cash is disconcerting and a financial liability.
Consumers are getting a break. More fuel-efficient vehicles are on the road. Car sales have increased.
So where's the money?
The federal government must fix this glitch and make the program work as advertised.
Comic strip reference is just a name
Some readers took issue with the name of a game mentioned in Sunday's "The Meaning of Lila" comic strip.
We assure readers it is a real game, popular with all age groups. It is a game similar to the bean bag toss. Instead of tossing bags of beans at a target, participants throw small bags of feed corn.
The game is also called Tailgate Toss, Bags and Baggo. The game even has its own terminology made up by enthusiasts, and there are official rules.
The reference to the game was not intended to offend. It appeared to be a double entendre for some readers, but we assure everyone that the nomenclature is simply the name of a game enjoyed by many children and adults.
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