“Cash for Clunkers” is being called a great success. Politicians are scrambling to fund an expansion of this program. Let's do a little math and see if we can agree.

The reports have been rolling in and we have heard repeatedly that showrooms were filled with people looking for new cars because of the “Cash for Clunkers” program. The Senate is working hard to fund this program for a whole month. They desperately need to tie themselves to a successful, popular program.

My non-scientific drive by of the dealerships near my home last weekend left me a bit suspicious. I saw no unusual activity. They did not even look busy. I saw few customers walking around the lots.

So, let's look at the numbers. According to government reports 157,000 rebate applications for the “Cash for Clunkers” program have been received.

To most folks that would seem like a large number. Showrooms must be standing room only, right? Consider this:

There are 3,140 counties and parishes in the United States. If this program has been going for 14 days, then that works out to an amazing 3.57 cars per county per day. Wow. Can you feel how much cleaner the air is? Have you seen all the “License Applied For” tags on your daily commute?

Perhaps some counties have no dealerships at all. Certainly a possibility. But right down the street from where I live there are at least 8. There are at least 15 in the county that I can think of off the top of my head.

Suffice it to say I am having a difficult time buying the hype on what a grand and successful program this is. Frankly, this is BS.

We have lost touch with reality in this country when it comes to numbers, impacts, and outcomes. We need more people to start doing a little math before we call something a success. We have a large country, people.

What seems like a large number at first is generally not so large when you break it down by county, something most of us can relate to. Would you even notice the new cars in your county?

Were “Cash for Clunkers” to be really successful as it has been described to us, perhaps 30 cars per county per day would be a starting point to describe success. But we cannot afford such a plan can we? That would be 10 times what we have spent so far.

The Wall Street Journal is now reporting that lean inventories imperil car sales.

Sorry, I am not buying it. This seems more like an attempt to create panic buying before your model is gone. Three and 1/2 cars per day per county and there is no more inventory? I know salesmen that used to sell that many cars per day.

That's my opinion. So do the math, and then tell me yours.