Alternative Energy (and why are we going the wrong way?)

I already know the answers to these questions, but I thought they would be worthwhile to ask anyway.

Recently, we had the whole "Cash For Clunkers" deal where people were given $4500 dollars to trade in their old "gas guzzling" vehicles for some more modern "fuel efficient" ones...
There are several problems with this, however...

#1 - Most people bought FOREIGN cars, which (for the most part) doesn't help our economy - you know, with sending our money to Japan or Germany...
"Local Car Dealership Gets Cash For Clunkers"
I guess it wouldn't have been so bad, if our American Auto Makers could figure out how to make an affordable "alternative fuel" or Hybrid (or just a plain old fuel economic) vehicle.

#2 - There was absolutely NO accountability built in to that program. We have NO REAL idea how much money was spent, and they went from ONE BILLION to THREE BILLION in the same way someone might go from 1 to 3 dollars.
Tax money is supposed to be for the operation and support of Government operations and services, where does the Cash for Clunkers fall? Under what law was it authorized?

#3 - I could have taken that $4500 and converted each of those vehicles (clunkers) into a Fuel Efficient "Diesel-Electric" hybrid, or a fully converted Electric car. The Diesel-Electric can get about 100 or more MPG and the Electric can travel between 30 and 120 miles on a single charge (depending on a variety of factors).
Which is better? 35-45 mpg or 100 mpg, 100 mpg or no need for fuel at all?

#4 - Anyone who benefited from the CfC $4500 will have to claim it on their TAXES as INCOME. For most people, this means an INCREASE in their taxes at the end of the year.

I would also like to wonder why we aren't seeing more focus on some of these other issues...maybe that 3 BILLION might have been better spend supporting Research into Alternative Fuels:
- BIODIESEL
- ETHANOL (not CORN ethanol)
- RECYCLING
(for those of you who still think CORN ETHANOL is a good idea, look at the comparison with Cane Ethanol, and BIOMASS Ethanol)

Or maybe one of these Alternative Vehicles or Companies:
- How About a BioDiesel or Electric Conversions (or THIS)
- Aptera, Persu, X1, Turbine-Electric, Diesel-Hybrid, or VW's Answer...

There are also companies that can sell you everything you need to "DIY"...
- Electric Motors and Control Systems

And you will notice that I didn't even hit on other alternatives, like Hydrogen, Steam, Natural Gas, Propane, or even compressed gas...

Don't you think that 3 BILLION would have been better spent in one of these areas?

And my last question:
Why are cars still about as efficient today as they were in the 1930s? The Olds L6 Sedan got about 30-35 mpg, which is better than what a V6 with Computers and Technology gets today...
So, with all that technology, we cannot get better fuel economy?
Take a look at this...

<<>>
More and newer ways to alternative energy:
The BlackLight Process

Or how about a "Micro Nuclear Power Plant, like the ones HERE and HERE?