FRANK BERNHEISEL

Junk the Junkers

April 26, 2009

Dear Editor,

I sent the following email to President Obama and my two US senators here in Virginia.

Dear Senator Warner,

I think that the United States needs some new thinking about the auto industry and the economy. Despite all the talk, I hear no new ideas.

Germany for example, has a program to take older cars, junkers, off the road. The program offers a cash payment of $3300 for the trade-in of a junker on a new car. The German government has budgeted $2.5 billion for this program.

The government payment of $3300 is independent of any offer the car dealer or manufacturer makes and so it essentially puts money in the consumer's pocket -- provided that he or she purchases a new car.

Junkers are the source of a large part of the pollution caused by automobiles. So the program not only has a positive economic impact but it lowers pollution and helps the environment.

Germany experienced a 40 percent increase in auto sales in March 2009 over March of 2008, providing the highest sales level since German unification.

Sincerely,

Frank Bernheisel