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Trump's Support for Ethanol Is Bad for Taxpayers and Their Cars
The National Review ^ | January 21, 2016 | Jillian Kay Melchior

Posted on 01/21/2016 2:17:48 AM PST by Cincinatus' Wife

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To: Hugin
Excellent. We can't get the little things right or done but hey, we'll get those big things taken care of - I swear!
61 posted on 01/21/2016 3:30:53 AM PST by DB
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To: 4rcane
I've listened to Trump's response in regards to ethanol. Basically he's pro-American industry. Anything to screw OPEC who are ripping Americans off

We don't need ethanol subsidies to screw OPEC.

62 posted on 01/21/2016 3:31:02 AM PST by MD Expat in PA
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To: DB
Gasoline weighs more per gallon than alcohol. Therefore it can produce more BTU’s per gallon.

Because gasoline explodes when ignited it will develop higher pressure and hotter temperatures at that moment.

Gasoline with 10% alcohol burns more slowly through more of the power stroke. This makes it more like a diesel.

Because of the above alcohol engines can run higher compression ratios and earlier ignition with out preignition problems.

Because of the facts above gasoline engines are only about 24% efficient of the energy available.

Alcohol engines can be up to 36% efficient of available energy.

This does not mean that alcohol will give the same performance in a given engine, but it does mean that an engine designed to run on alcohol will give respectable performance.

Where I live 85 octane fuel with 10% alcohol with a total octane rating of 87 is priced 20 cents lower than low lead 87 octane.

89 octane low lead is 60 cent higher.

I also believe that the alcohol industry can get along without government mandates and a five year phase out on mandates would be just fine starting now.

We need to do the same with all government supported programs, and I will tell you, you will not like it because it will affect some programs you like.

63 posted on 01/21/2016 3:31:53 AM PST by Walt Griffith
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To: grania

Wait a minute, cowboy. Ethanol subsidies support the globalist, scum-sucking corporate entities you allegedly oppose.


64 posted on 01/21/2016 3:32:03 AM PST by 1rudeboy
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Government mandate to burn our food in a way that destroys small engines, damages regular engines, weakens fuel economy with delivering a lower BTU product at the pump and costs more to produce than the worth is extracted when used.


65 posted on 01/21/2016 3:32:04 AM PST by USCG SimTech (Honored to serve since '71)
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To: DanZ

I see you do what I do. Get excited while typing and have my spelling and grammar go a little sideways...

The more screwed up my spelling and grammar are the more excited I am...


66 posted on 01/21/2016 3:32:50 AM PST by DB
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To: MD Expat in PA

Don’t speak reason on this thread! Be gone!


67 posted on 01/21/2016 3:33:08 AM PST by 1rudeboy
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

But it’s good for his election chances and probably his wallet. And really, isn’t that far more important than American taxpayers?


68 posted on 01/21/2016 3:34:00 AM PST by Reaper19
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To: mconley22
If you don’t like Trump's pandering to Iowan farmers, just be patient. His position on ethanol will change as necessary. It must be great to lead a personality cult.

This IS Trump's position - the position of a Big Government, crony capitalism liberal.

69 posted on 01/21/2016 3:34:11 AM PST by Cincinatus' Wife
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To: 1rudeboy
I apologize, I misunderstood your post. Now I understand...
70 posted on 01/21/2016 3:34:37 AM PST by DB
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To: Helicondelta

So we’ve got loads of resources going into completely unnecessary farming? It’s as if we taxpayers were somehow funding thosands of buggy whip factories in Iowa?

If that’s really the case a) I guess we really can afford to grow all the crops we need for food organically, and b) it’s time we allowed the invisible hand of the free economy to shift our resources into more productive areas.


71 posted on 01/21/2016 3:35:08 AM PST by 9YearLurker
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To: DanZ
Trump rationalization - I don't agree with him on this, I don't like his previous stances on abortion, amnesty, taxes, cronyism, being a NY Democrat, buying politicians, pro socialized medicine......but says he's going to make Mexico pay for the wall with money they don't have and he wears that awesome Make America Great Again hat.

So I'll put aside my belief system and ignore all that history......he can get the Independent vote!

The Conservative movement is no longer a movement. It's been corrupted by the 'win at any cost' crowd.

72 posted on 01/21/2016 3:35:13 AM PST by Reagan Disciple (Peace through Strength)
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To: Cincinatus' Wife
CW, it's pretty much established that the world has changed a lot since 2009. We need a president who has recognized that and can identify the worst of problems and lead the initiatives to solve them.

I hate to see you doing this. You're the best researcher on FR, have been since I cyber-met you 16 years ago. But it's time to let go. Trump is a force of nature, the imperfect hero of the caliber we so admire in history and literature. If he can't get it done, no one else can or will. In four years, after the other contenders develop their views and ability to take charge and lead, one of them will emerge. Both political parties can regroup and get their priorities straight. Only someone real strong who attracts a lot of attention, across the political spectrum, can get that started.

73 posted on 01/21/2016 3:35:26 AM PST by grania
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To: 9YearLurker

No, but there’s a good chance you will be soon.


74 posted on 01/21/2016 3:35:42 AM PST by DB
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To: DB

I will never, ever allow someone on FR to demagogue the “small farmer” issue. Ever.


75 posted on 01/21/2016 3:36:34 AM PST by 1rudeboy
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To: Reaper19

It’s all about his bottom line, which depends on who he’s currying favor from.

Check out the top lines of this chart of recent Trump donations.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1mz-m0P3kd7kiWFGuJ3SNpzjwd8znn4wpbvldTJ9RCUQ/edit?pref=2&pli=1#gid=0


76 posted on 01/21/2016 3:37:04 AM PST by Cincinatus' Wife
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

In discussing ethanol from corn, we need to consider the factors of supply, demand and cost of production. I think Trump has examined the economy of corn and how the introduction of the ethanol economy makes that product bring the maximum benefit to both the consumer and the producer.

We have seen how the cost of corn production is driven by oil prices, fertilizer, seed etc. which in the past has driven up corn prices. Today the price of corn, if it were primarily used for food, would be lower then the cost of production because there is no market for all of the corn U.S. growers are capable of producing. Because of technology, U.S. corn production has gone from and average of 35-50 bushels per acre to close to 200 average today. With the increased costs of production, the profitability of raising corn quickly reaches a threshold where crop failures can create a disastrous results. To increase demand and raise prices so that corn producers can operate in the safety margin of profitability, U.S. growers have been paid by government not to grow corn.

One needs to understand supply/demand economics to see the value ethanol production has on corn’s price and the profitability to raise it. Corn prices will rise if there are markets for it. If not, corn prices will go down and with it, cause corn production to go down until the market price comes to a point that it is profitable to raise it. In fact, this encourages producers to grow less corn to drive profits as high as possible. When this happens, and if food production is the only use of corn, you will not like what happens. Ethanol production for fuel is like a buffer on the demand side of the equation. When demand is low from the food production side, the production for fuel will increases the demand which increases the price and makes the production profitable. This is the demand side of the equations.

Now on the supply side, when more corn is produced, it should drop the price for the consumer. That is not good for the producer because it reduces the profitability to produce corn. However, with the use of corn for ethanol, corn is made profitable to produce, no matter how much is produced. That is because the price of ethanol is determined by the fuel market, not the food market. It is a win win situation for the producers and the consumer because the overall effect is it keeps the price to the consumer as low as possible while maximizing the profitability to raise it.


77 posted on 01/21/2016 3:37:16 AM PST by jonrick46 (The Left has a mental disorder: A totalitarian mindset..)
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To: 1rudeboy

Read my total comment. What I said is solving the problem isn’t going to happen if the problems of globalism and the impact on the US economy aren’t solved.


78 posted on 01/21/2016 3:37:37 AM PST by grania
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To: grania

Then you’re not in favor of ethanol subsidies. Fine with me. Sorry.


79 posted on 01/21/2016 3:39:12 AM PST by 1rudeboy
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To: Cincinatus' Wife
Ignorance is bliss. Let's walk through this boutique issue.

Pray tell, what is the strategy to change what we already have?

Does Cruz, the rigid and expert Constitutionalist write an executive order or something? Does he usurp the legislative branch and write his own spending bill?

Does he veto an entire omnibus legislation since he has no line item veto and become the target of the MSM government shutdown chorus? Is there a Stop Ethanol button on the big desk in the oval office?

Or is this a crystal clear perfect example of an empty campaign promise that they all spout but which makes no difference in the end?

Congratulations on everyone ( including Levin ) who are easily distracted while the country is at stake. The question is who can successfully pick up the twelve swing states that remain on the table. That is the only consideration left as to picking the nominee. The luxury of boutique issues and doctrinaire litmus tests ended decades ago when the playing field was still relatively level.

P.S. Diverting food crops to Ethanol added into fuels is plain stupid, just like countless other leftist idiocracies. It took me all of three seconds to state that fact. It doesn't require any discussion in the campaign unless you really want to lose this thing.

80 posted on 01/21/2016 3:39:52 AM PST by Democratic-Republican
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