Posted on 01/16/2016 6:17:11 AM PST by doldrumsforgop
Until now conventional wisdom assumed that candidates of both major parties had to back ethanol welfare to win the Iowa caucuses. In 1988 Pete du Pont challenged agricultural subsidies, but he didn’t triumph there or in New Hampshire, after which he dropped out of the race.
In contrast, when Sen. John “Straight Talk Express†McCain ran, he flip-flopped on ethanol, proclaiming himself a true believer in the subsidy after criticizing it for being “highway robbery.†Sen. Hillary Clinton attacked ethanol welfare as “equivalent to a new tax†on gasoline; candidate Clinton lauded the dubious fuel for “limiting our dependence on foreign oil.â€
Years ago Jerry Taylor and Peter Van Doren of the Cato Institute called corn equivalent to “a state religion.†At least in Iowa, which accounts for a quarter of ethanol capacity, corn, like cotton in the antebellum South, was king. No politician who hoped to become president wanted to be branded a heretic or seen as committing regicide.
Most of today’s candidates have fallen into line. For instance, Florida’s Sen. Marco Rubio, a big fan of the sugar program, which enriches growers from his state, has embraced ethanol subsidies. Why? Agriculture is “not an equal playing field†compared to other businesses, he claimed: “it’s a very weak industry.†Actually, farmers have a much more powerful lobby than do most other enterprises. Those on the ethanol dole have done especially well.
However, Sen. Ted Cruz has broken ranks to criticize farmers’ welfare and he holds a narrow lead over Donald Trump in the upcoming caucuses. (Sen. Rand Paul also flunks the ethanol lobby’s test, but he remains far back in the race.) Cruz’s political strength has dismayed ethanol makers. The group America’s Renewable Future, whose state director is the governor’s son, is deploying 22 staffers in the presidential campaign.
(Excerpt) Read more at spectator.org ...
"“Since 1982, on average ethanol has cost 2.4 times more than an energy-equivalent amount of gasoline.†"
"By creating an artificial energy demand for corn—an astonishing 40 percent of the existing supply goes for ethanol—Uncle Sam also is raising food prices. Forbes contributor James Conca estimated that the amount of corn necessary to fill a 25-gallon gas tank “can feed one person for a year.†"
Oddly, some ethanol proponents have argued that this is a good thing. Less corn going to animals and people should reduce greenhouse emissions. Taking the argument to its logical end, Washington should promote mass starvation around the globe."
"Nor does ethanol welfare yield an environmental benefit, as claimed. In fact, ethanol is bad for the planet. Two years ago the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change warned that “Increasing bioenergy crop cultivation poses risks to ecosystems and biodiversity.†"
At least the article did not use the incorrect phrase “ethanol subsidies” since there are none per Iowa Rep Steven King. There are renewable fuel standards in place for strategic energy reasons in the long term. The entire US energy policy needs to be reviewed.
Didn’t ethanol raise prices for the rest of the world? All that useless-kid-brain-hyperventilating high fructose corn syrup NEEDS TO GO TOO because it makes the idiot liberals drug their kids to settle them down.
Anyway...I’m not against big business. I just don’t want big business running the country.
Farmers are less than 2 percent of the population.
I suspect not all Iowegians are in favor of corn fuel.
The problem is not big business....it’s big government.....and more specifically, the cancerous nexxus of big gov and big biz. Like ethanol. GE. Solyndra.
But that can only happen when government is too big and too powerful. The problem is big gov picking winners (corn farmers, some lobbyists) and losers (every body else in the world).
“ “Myra Belle “Sally†Miller — the 195â€8 Miss Arkansâ€as who said in 19â€92 that she had â€had an affair with Clinâ€ton in 1983. â€She claimed†that she†had been â€warned noâ€t to go public by a Demoâ€cratic†Party official: “They knew that I went joggâ€ing by myself and he couldn’t guarâ€antee what would happen to my prâ€etty little legs.†“
Into this:
"Myra Belle "Sally" Miller -- the 1958 Miss Arkansas who said in 1992 that she had had an affair with Clinton in 1983. She claimed that she had been warned not to go public by a Democratic Party official: "They knew that I went jogging by myself and he couldn't guarantee what would happen to my pretty little legs."
Real easy here:
That program works really well. Thanks.
This Iowan hates ethanol, hates the winter-blend gasolines that almost invariably include ethanol, and hates the "farm every f-ing square inch" mentality that subsidy-driven corporate agriculture has adopted.
If there was plant material left over from trad farming that ethanol could be made from profitably without government almighty putting its fat, grubby thumb on the scales, I might hate it less.
Mr. niteowl77
Does it really take more energy to make a gallon of the stuff, than he stuff gives back as fuel??
Does the processing really take an inordinate amount of precious water compared to regular gasoline?
Does it really harm many engines?
Include Big Education in that, too.
‘swhy I buy only premium (no ethanol) gas for our boat and small equipment.
It is a sin to burn your food.
“Didn’t ethanol raise prices for the rest of the world?”
Yes it did and everyone south of our border uses corn the way we use wheat so the rise in prices meant they couldn’t feed their families.
The rising corn prices is part of the reason they come north of the border to get the money to feed their families.
First thing you have to do to stop the southern hoards from coming across the border is lower the price/demand of corn for fuel.
The Trump Wall will be far more effective.
Ask the shops that repair gasoline engines.
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