This article from MSNBC shows how government-sponsored ethanol may seriously harm the environment, as fertilizer from the increased corn production makes its way to the Gulf of Mexico and kills sea life.
So not only does ethanol hit taxpayers twice — first through subsidies and then through higher prices for corn and related products such as milk — it also harms the environment. Plus it could not possibly achieve the silly goal of “energy independence.”
Politicians who pander to Iowans and the likes of Archer Daniels Midland by supporting this destructive program (e.g., 1 2 3) should be ashamed of themselves.
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Yeah I live in Houston and saw a report on the news about this problem. Funny how these “environmentally friendly” things end up doing more harm that good. That is puzzling until you realize that behind most environmental issue is a power or rent seeking motive.
I think it is funny how the solutions offered in the article are all more government, when a solution that would be more effective is less government. All that is really needed is for the government to stop subsidizing ethanol production, this would cause the demand and the price of corn to drop, and farmers would quit growing so much of it. No real need for further regulations.
There is always a power motive, but even when the enviro agenda isn’t steered toward Archer Daniels et al., their plans don’t do anything for the environment or do very little at great expense. Most of the time, the plan costs a lot and totally fails to achieve the desired result.
The toilet regulations stand out as an example. Crappy “less water” toilets would break and leak or wouldn’t flush and so people would flush two or three times. So much for saving water.
following on from brent’s toilet rage, here in australia there’s an active market in non-conforming toilets. toilets available must satisfy certain water-conservation norms, and can use as little as 7litres (1gallon=4litres). whilst old-style toilets used between 20-30litres (5-7gallons), “mission accomplished” was typically achieved first flush. these “dinosaurs” are eagerly sought by the better-off for their new villas. go green power!
Newson, you’d better clarify whether you are talking the undersized US gallons or the real thing (25% bigger).
J.H., a perceptive post, but allow me a bit of tongue in cheek fun:
It’s interesting to see you buying into classic enviro-hype like this:
Oops; sorry for not closing my quoted first paragraph!
I live in Iowa and it seems that everyone knows that the reason for the high corn prices is because the government is subsidizing ethanol production. At least that is not a secret.
And most people can follow the cause and effect further along and so they also realize that there are numerous and even untold consequences from this ‘government’ solution.
So the biggest lie or secret is the degree of oil independence. At this point few people realize that this boondoggle scheme actually represents a short and a long term net loss, requiring more fossil fuels to make the ethanol than any gain from the ethanol.
The ‘green’ politicians and demogogues are really yellow and turning brown! The Earth groans at their ineptness.
to pm lawrence:
touche. disregard all my attempts at imperial conversion. we use metric in australia, so i only vouch for the litres. i’m on shaky ground in gallons.
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