Hi Jason:

___Given your youth, you really do not have to trouble yourself with such things yet but you will be paying for our many digressions in a few short years from now. When you begin your life long career making 30, 40, 50, 60 + K a year to start (hopefully) and do not yet earn enough to purchase a decent home let alone a loaded up Prius II or new top of the line compact, think about that $600 benefit going to someone who probably makes 150K + year or more for an SULEV based luxury - compact SUV with a 31/27 EPA rating. You will not receive a dime of this benefit yourself because all you will be able to afford is a non-hybrid Corolla, Civic, or Focus with higher FE (most cases) and lower emissions in (some cases - PZEV based Focus as an example) on your initial salary probably. You will pay for that $600 freebie to the already wealthy Lux SUV owner one way or the other and this is where the train runs off the rails in my book. That $600 would be better spent giving $’s to those purchasing a PZEV based Ford Focus in terms of money flow here in the states, lowering our trade deficit because of our insatiable oil appetite, and lowering emissions. Hybrids do not need an incentive to move them off the show room floor in any way shape or form. Given today’s crushing government deficits; the free handout to the wealthier amongst us is a sad testament as to where the US’ future is truly headed.

___Good Luck

___Wayne R. Gerdes
___Waynegerdes@earthlink.net