* Conservatives are spreading a rumor that every Chevy Volt is costing U.S. taxpayers $250,000. The rumor is, of course, completely wrong, and a reminder that the right is too often bad at math.
The rumor is not "completely wrong". However, it is fair to assume that more Chevy Volts will be sold and that the subsidies will thus be spread over more vehicles, and the per-vehicle subsidy will come down over time. That's a fairer statement. These are 20-year programs, and the total subsidy will not be known until the 20 years are over or the grants max out.
HOWEVER. If you built 6,000 Volts a year for the next 20 years, according to the analysis, you'd be looking at $25,000 per vehicle in subsidies over the 20 years.
That's insane. There is absolutely no reason, under any circumstances, the taxpayers ought to be subsidizing pile of shit cars. Or even great cars. If someone wants it they damned well need to pay for it and not freeload off other people.
You know about freeloading, right? |
