Did Cash For Clunkers Help Mississippi?

Mississippi Unemployment Two Years Later

Remember Cash For Clunkers?  The government giveaway in 2009 and 2010 that gave $8000 to anyone scrapping their old car and buying a new one?  As Americans flocked to dealer lots and went further into debt one has to wonder, was it worth it?  Did it create jobs?  Well one way to look at this now that two years has passed is to look at the unemployment rate.  President Obama said if the stimulus was passed unemployment would not rise above 8%.  Well how are we doing?  Look at Mississippi unemployment with a rate over 10%.  The Mississippi unemployment rate sits at 10.3% in June 2011 so clearly we still have issues of many Americans finding themselves out of work and needing a job.  What's the answer?  More government stimulus like Cash for Clunkers?  If history is any indicator we should stay away from government givewaways that only provide short term benefits and encourage consumer debt. 

Clunkers Not Fuel Efficient

If we must spend government money in an effort to create jobs infrastructure projects in states like Mississippi are a better alternative to cash For Clunkers.  At least if a new road is built in Mississippi even if the jobs go away someday the road can be used for years to come.