MINT-AND-CORN COUNTRY, INDIANA — Because Cash for Clunkers proved to be such a great vehicle for saving “the Economy”, not to mention an unnatural instigator of a climb in used-car pricing, (and which has the further insalubrious effect of reinforcing the throwaway mindset that dominates today), now this:

Starting this fall, you could get a rebate of $50 to $200 for buying a new, more energy-efficient appliance. As with the Clunkers program, the Obama administration hopes to jump-start the flagging appliance industry while improving the environment. It has set aside $300 million to be used for rebates as part of the economic stimulus program.

Now, green conservative who I am, I support the use and promotion of energy-efficient appliances, green technology, and the like. Not so much, however, continued profligacy on the part of a government that squanders money with recklessness comparable to that displayed by Sarah Palin when the English language is involved.

But even leaving aside my qualms with such spectacularly spendthrift shenanigans, my doubts about the long-term benefits to “the Economy” that this policy may create, and my Constitutionalist (to say nothing of Articles-of-Confederationalist!) skepticism toward this sort of federal involvement in economic policy per se, I deplore this policy particularly for the detrimental effect that I reckon it will have on localism and small-town America by way of acting as an indirect subsidy (Surprise, surprise!) to big business, specifically in the form of big-box appliance/electronic and home-improvement stores.

Eric Hart, owner of Nason’s Appliances in Crown Point, hopes the program will sway more people to buy new instead of opting for a used appliance or repairing the one they have, although he admits $50 or $100 off won’t make a big enough price dent for some people.

“If you can spend $100 to $200 on a used washing machine, compared to northwards of $600 for an Energy Star washing machine, I don’t think $100 is enough of an incentive,” Hart said.

That fifty-to-two hundred-dollar rebate, more often than not, is going to go a little further at a Best Buy or Lowe’s than it will at Origer’s Ovens or, say, Nason’s Appliances in Crown Point, Indiana (home of the annual Corn Fest; North Judson, my hometown, hosts the Mint Festival). (Lest anyone call me out here, based on past posts, I note that I am well aware, as some commenters have diligently noted, that for multifarious reasons, chain retailers often — though not always — sell at (sometimes significantly) lower costs than to independent businesses; it is the trade-offs involved here, inter alia, that compel me nonetheless to eschew, when possible, and to excoriate big business.) So, while a number of thrifty Americans may engage in the good practices of having their malfunctioning machines mended or purchasing previously possessed appliances, those who take advantage of this “free” money, hoping to capitalizing on the savings as much as possible, will have all the more reason to pack the kids into the Prius and smugly to head off to Noplace, USA, in search of the most affordable earth-friendly microwave, comparing prices between Circuit City (Oh, wait…) and the Home Despot and then having the delivery truck arrive the next day.

What happens when big business and big government further collaborate and big labor, already complicit with both, is seemingly left out of the game? Hurray for the corpocracy!

Maybe it’s time to rethink this entire “bigger is better” mentality — and to make a little more noise, a lá the Tea Parties, but when Republicans are in office, too, about pandering, populistic, profligate policies.