Posted on 05/10/2015 2:58:11 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
Well this is certainly disappointing. With all of the newly emerging candidates running around the early primary and caucus states talking to anyone who will listen it gets difficult to keep track of them all. But there’s one bit of news out of Iowa from earlier this week which is definitely worth a quick rewind and a better look. Newly announced presidential contender Ben Carson was out talking to the Cornhuskers and the inevitable subjects of ethanol, the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and subsidies for King Corn came up. The answer from the esteemed neurosurgeon was dismaying even compared to some of the other pandering we’ve seen previously.
He started out on a fairly good note:
Carson, in his first speech in the state as a candidate, was asked by a voter about the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), the federal mandate that fuel refiners blend a certain volume of ethanol and biodiesel into their gasoline and diesel supplies.
“I don’t particularly like the idea of government subsidies for anything because it interferes with the natural free market,” Carson said, according to The Des Moines Register.
Not bad. Subsidies in general are detrimental. If he’d only stopped there. But sadly, he didn’t.
“Therefore, I would probably be in favor of taking that $4 billion a year we spend on oil subsidies and using that in new fueling stations” for 30 percent ethanol blends, he added.
How much wrong can you package into just one sentence? First of all… thirty percent blends? We’re fighting like mad to hold the line against E-15 as it is. I don’t even need to go back over all the reasons why yet again in this article. But let’s move on to the other half of that pitch.
He’s suggesting cutting subsidies for domestic energy companies in the oil and gas industry. Not for everyone, mind you. Just them. And then reallocating that money away from fossil fuels and into ethanol processing. Just five seconds before that Carson had been claiming that he didn’t want anyone interfering with the free market, but now he’s saying to cherry pick one specific set of companies in the energy sector, remove a subsidy from them, and then redirect it to benefit the ethanol industry? It’s difficult to imagine a more egregious example of the government picking winners and losers, with the winners just happening to be in the first caucus state.
Second, calling out the “subsidies for Big Oil” is the language of the Left, and as usual it’s complete horse hockey. As anyone who follows this topic knows, the subsidies received by oil and gas companies are not specific to them. They are precisely the same as subsidies given to almost anyone who sells anything, including Apple and Microsoft among so many others. In fact, you couldn’t just cancel the subsidies to the fossil fuel segment of the energy industry without rewriting the rules entirely just to exclude them. That’s a left wing, anti-energy talking point and Carson should be embarrassed to be saying it in front of an ostensibly conservative crowd.
If you want to have a discussion about removing all subsidies across the board, then fine. We’re all ears. Carly Fiorina has proposed the same thing and it’s a worthy topic of debate. But when you start talking about just picking the pockets of oil and gas developers and using it to pay for ethanol, you may as well be running for the Democrat nomination. Poor showing, Dr. Carson.
yep, chainsaws hate the 10% ... imagine 30%
It’s not good for the environment either. Ethanol takes huge amounts of water (to grow the corn and to process). Plus it takes the place of wheat, soy beans and other crops - making them more expensive. (Food gets more expensive when you burn a lot of it). The corn also requires more fertilizers.
I used to think Ben Carson was just a bit misguided on a couple of things. After this, he is just out and out wrong on many things.
It may be one way of getting the GMO grain out of the mouths of Americans. . .now that is something taking a toll on the American population . . physically. . .perhaps mentally.
This pronouncement would seem to reflect an inability to seek out and assemble competent advisers in this vital area.
Carson continues to step in it.
Carson’s starting to show some loose shingles.
I don’t have limitus tests for candidates, but there are some things that tell me the candidate is not one for me to spend time on. For a Republican to suggest we should support ethanol is one of them.
BTW, here in Maine we are close to taking ethanol out of our gasoline. Bill has passed committee approval with unamoius support. Just waiting for the house and senate votes.
Every Republican save Cruz is for ethanol. Every one.
None of the left-wing crazy environmentalists that I know here in Vermont support the ethanol scam. Maybe they were fooled for a while, but they’ve all wised up. Ethanol is pure greed from a few key farm states, which gobble up tax dollars and refuse to put an end to it.
OK, I was inclined to give Carson a listen - but I’ve heard enough right now.
Ethanol subsidies are a gross distortion of our economy, allowing a small number of farmers and really big corporations (i.e., Archer-Daniels-Midland) to get filthy rich, simply because those farmer mostly reside in the state having the first Presidential primaries.
Dear Ben: WRONGO!
Ben, Ben, Ben........
Let’s slash Ben Carson to pay for a real conservative.
I really have wondered the same thing and was kinda flabbergasted to be slammed here for minor criticisms of him. Like if I don't want to run out and vote for him I'm somehow worst than a liberal communist.
Is it all just because of the color of his skin? If so, then this crap has gone beyond ridiculous.
He's a doctor. He's smart, has a great attitude and I think would make for a great leader. I don't expect him to be completely researched (and with the "correct" position) on every topic this early in the game. I do expect him to be someone who, when the time comes for action, will seek the right advice on issues and will act with our best interest in mind.
Therefore, I'm not falling for the standard tactic of the left aimed at getting us to systematically eliminate every threat to Hilary over some comment about one issue, especially when it's not a "top-tier issue" (economy, Islam, race, etc.) for me.
This speaks volumes about Cruz's character. He is putting the well-being of the nation before his own interests. As for the rest of them, they are all just shamelessly pandering for votes.
I never heard of him until about mid-2014. He/his followers were running some political ads on the radio. “Carson is the only one who can beat Hillary.”
How do they know he can beat anyone, since he hasn’t run for elective office?
Then, he is suddenly hitting #3 or #4 and double-digits in the straw and preference polls. Based on what?
“every chile a warnted chile” redux? God Forbid!
Hey, on the counter side, ethanol has been a boon to countless small engine repair shops. I should know, I've had to take three small engines in to get degummed from ethanol use. Only use premium (no ethanol) gas for them now.
I have had to do the exact same thing, and the gentleman who owns the shop says ethanol keeps him in constant business.
I too have found a place that sell ethanol free premium. I’m surprised they haven’t been raided by the federales.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.