Posted on 06/21/2007 9:51:28 PM PDT by Tarpon
Like the idea of paying more for less? If a certain piece of legislation now before Congress becomes law, we might have no choice.
Despite having the words "consumer protection" in its title, the latest Senate energy bill would actually boost the cost of gasoline, electricity, food, cars and home appliances. In fact, virtually everything touched by the Renewable Fuels, Consumer Protection and Energy Efficiency Act of 2007 will go up in price and down in quality.
Notwithstanding public outcries over $3-per-gallon gas, the bill's main provision on gasoline is to increase the amount of costly ethanol and other renewable fuels Americans are required to use. The 2005 energy bill mandated that agricultural-based renewable fuels, mostly ethanol made from corn, be mixed into the gasoline supply. Ethanol usually costs more than gasoline and dramatically lowers fuel economy, so the mandate has hurt drivers. And the competition for corn has driven up the prices of food items such as sweeteners and corn-fed meat and dairy products.
Despite this costly track record, the Senate now wants to expand the mandate fivefold to 36 billion gallons annually by 2022. The price for fuel and food, already higher under the current mandate, would likely skyrocket. In addition, the heavy government subsidies for renewables, including a 51-cent per gallon tax credit, would rise along with the mandate.
It gets worse. The bill also would require that 15 percent of electricity be generated by politically correct but expensive means like wind and solar. As with ethanol, the only reason these alternatives need federal mandates in the first place is that they are too costly to compete otherwise.
In addition, the bill sets new federal efficiency standards for a number of home appliances such as refrigerators, clothes washers and dishwashers. The goal is to reduce energy use by setting arbitrary limits on how much electricity these appliances are allowed to consume. But past appliance regulations have actually hurt consumers.
I love the last paragraph ... Ben doesn't pull any punches.
A "consumer protection" bill that's anti-consumer. An "energy" bill that's anti-energy. Too bad the laws against false advertising don't apply to Congress.The author has a way with words. This bill sucks and is a major blow for the consumer and the US economy, but hey that was the point, wasn't it? And what about nuclear energy? Yeah, what nuclear power, who needs nuclear power when we can use windmills. If you love the 1.5 gallon, flush three times toilets, you will love this as well.
Thought I would give this posting thing a try and see how it goes.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
The bill is crap and this is part Bush’s fault. If the US wants Ethanol it should buy it from Brazil.
Ethanol is an absolute product of government intervention. Even in Brazil it would not exist without government subsidies. In a truly free society Ethanol would NEVER be produced anywhere on Earth. The world has at leas 300 years of oil left (minimal) That number would go much hight, if exploratory drilling wasn't shackled by the evil left. It is astounding how so many pols on the right, go along with the Stalinist left on so many issues. Some strong conservative must stand up and say that Ethanol is a total scam, along with AGW. Some strong conservative must stand up and tell the public that Ethanol MUST be killed before it, along with illegal immigration will destroy our way of life. The enviro nuts are more anti-human that Stalin.
I wonder if it’s possible for Congress’ approval number to be a negative. They’re certainly trying for it.
The dems have it wrong...you don’t force things. At best you reward results and you set standards of accomplishment. Businesses will eagerly go for it.
Not sure if this is all true, but I hope not.
They’re idealists....their ideal is we live like 1830.
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