It looks like problems abound for the "cash for clunkers," program. I won't characterize it as a boondoggle, but others don't hesitate to.
Evidently the way this works is that the car dealers have to front the customer the $4500, disable the clunker permanently and then apply for reimbursement. So far, depending upon whose numbers you use, roughly 25,000 of the 250,000 submitted applications have been processed. A significant number of those have been denied according to the dealer I'm acquainted with. As you might imagine, he is not amused.
I'll tell you who OUGHT to be worried now--all those first time first-time home buyers waiting for their $8000 rebate checks.