Was Cash for Clunkers another corporate gift?

[Tim01]

It seems like a great program, to some extent, on the surface. Less fuel usage nation wide, and a shot in the arm to the car industry.
But the downside is going to be pretty far reaching. I think there were a lot of people who got themselves in debt as a result of this program, people who would have just held on to their older cars otherwise. Now they will be paying finance charges and they will have a new car payment. I have had old cars and new cars. The cost of repairs is no where near as expensive as a monthly car payment, and the mandatory full coverage insurance. Banks and insurance companies benefit from this program, and middle class and poor people pay for it.
The other thing that will happen as a result of this program is a shortage of used cars. Used car prices will go up as a result of this shortage. And they will just not be as available anyway. Some more people will end up with a car payment instead of buying a used car, more debt for poor people and profits for car companies, banks, and insurance companies.
Used car parts will become less available. They will be harder to find, and more expensive. Once again making it more attractive to just get a new car and a new car payment, and higher insurance payment.
I have a friend who owns a junkyard and he is pretty concerned about the impending used car shortage. He and his employees make their living off used car parts. Less used cars equals less used car parts.

I am no longer convinced the motivation behind this program was what we were told it was. Maybe I'm wrong.