Kernel Clunk

He was a victim of his own success.

According to Colonel Klink of Hogan’s Heroes fame, “There has never been a successful escape from Stalag 13.” If only the Commandant had known the whole truth. Stalag 13 was anything but secure. In the popular television show Hogan’s Heroes the POWs of Stalag 13 operated a full-scale underground espionage unit under the nose of the nincompoop Klink. Klink was blinded by his own success.

Similarly this week we learned of another “victim of its own success.” President Obama announced that the popular “Cash for Clunkers” program ends at 8 PM on Monday night. It has run out of money.

The Administration will boast of its success. It will be argued that hundreds of thousands of gas guzzling cars have been permanently removed from the streets. Manufacturing in America is up. Thousands of workers have found new jobs. The auto industry is saved. The American consumer is confidant again. Happy days are here again.

In such claims kernels of truth can be found.

To date close to 500,000 clunkers have been turned in due to this program. Over $2 billion of the appropriated $3 billion has been claimed by auto dealerships around the country. A $4,500 government subsidy proved to be a powerful incentive to buy a new car.

The long-term affect, however, may prove to be more revealing.

Of that $2 billion owed to dealerships, less than $200 million has been distributed. The thousand or so employees of the Department of Transportation dedicated to this program are swamped. Seemingly the program was ended less because of a cash shortage and more because of a manpower shortage. The government cannot keep up with the requests and the dealerships are beginning to toot their horns. Many dealerships are worried that Obama has sold them a lemon. Obama cannot afford negative feedback from a relatively small program with his health care debate on the horizon. Quit while you are ahead.

The lessons here are plentiful.

Public policy ain’t beanbag. The idea behind “Cash for Clunkers” proved to be a bulls-eye. Interest exceeded expectations. Overwhelming participation in the program undercut the Department of Transportation’s readiness to fulfill its obligations. The symbolic success of the program soon exceeded the reality of implementation. Claim success and get out before a good thing turns bad.

When searching for ways to fundamentally transform the American economy in the 1930s President Roosevelt said, “It is common sense to take a method and try it: If it fails, admit it frankly and try another. But above all, try something.”

President Obama hasn’t let Roosevelt down. He has been open to many ideas. Acknowledging the limitations of his ideas, however, is not one of Obama’s strong suits. Claiming one thing without recognizing the truth of another will ultimately dog this president like it has for all of the others. Playing politics at the expense of governing cannot last forever.

If Obama cannot be frank with the American people he will lose our trust. Then he too will become a victim of his own success.