Bill Clinton’s Ominous Warning: Too Much Ethanol Could Spark Food Riots
- Posted on February 25, 2011 at 8:37am by
Jonathon M. Seidl
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WASHINGTON (AP) — With global food prices rising and more corn being diverted to the production of ethanol fuel, Bill Clinton is warning of food riots in poor nations.
The former president told farmers and Agriculture Department employees on Thursday that while producing biofuels is important for reducing America’s dependence on foreign oil, farmers should also look beyond domestic production and consider the needs of developing countries.
“I think the best thing to say is we have to become energy independent, but we don’t want to do it at the cost of food riots,” Clinton said.
Clinton’s foundation has worked to develop agribusiness in African countries such as Malawi and Rwanda. He said the United States needs to look at the long term, global effects of its farm policy.
“We know that the way we produce and consume energy has to change, yet for farmers there are no simple answers,” he said. “There is a way for us to do this and to do it right.”
At the department’s annual Agricultural Outlook Forum, chief economist Joseph Glauber said food prices are expected to rise this year and corn use for ethanol will continue to grow. He said 37 percent of all U.S. corn production could be used for ethanol by 2012.
The ethanol industry long has said that its production does not significantly drive up food prices and that the price of corn contributes to a tiny percentage of every food dollar.
“The driver behind rising food prices has been and remains oil,” said Matt Hartwig of the ethanol industry group Renewable Fuels Association. “Rising oil prices, even before the unrest in the Middle East and Northern Africa, have made everything we buy from food to clothes to oil more expensive.”
Other industries have contended that ethanol contributes to food price spikes, affecting their bottom lines and consumers, too.
After years of subsidizing ethanol production, Congress has taken an increasingly skeptical look at the fuel as food prices have fluctuated and cutting spending has become a legislative priority.
More than $5 billion in ethanol tax credits were extended at the end of last year as a part of an end-of-session tax deal. But the new Republican House passed two amendments to a spending bill last weekend that would attempt to slow ethanol use.
Even longtime supporters of ethanol in Congress have acknowledged that the country’s mood may mean less support for the ethanol industry.
Glauber said that corn-based ethanol production is currently running at more than 13 billion gallons a year. Congress has required refiners to blend 36 billion gallons of biofuels, much of it ethanol, into auto fuel by 2022.
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Comments (265)
Gonzo
Posted on February 25, 2011 at 9:10amWhy do we need ethanol or battery operated cars at all? The hydrogen fuel cell car works, zero pollution and zero dependence on foreign oil. Hybrids still run on gas, a little less but, they still need gas. They have home fueling stations for hydrogen cell engines. If you produced the electricity to run the home fueling stations with nuclear nuclear energy, you have no polution from driving PERIOD. Downside is fueling staions would need to be installed around the country. With good tax incentives this can be accomoplished. After all, there were no gas staions when the combustion engine was invented. Cars are expensive, so are hybrids and battery operated cars and agian tax incentives would help. The first DVD player I bought was $350 and had a quarter of the features I can buy now for $100 . Hydrogen fuel is equal to $3.50 a gallon gas (roughly) but that will drop like a rock when competition is introduced in to the market. The end result would be an energy independent U.S. and drastically reduced polution. Obama, as far as I know, has never mentioned hydrogen fuel cell technology. Why? Because it was a Bush initiative? He’s copied Bush in othe areas. Bush was accused of being “in the pocket of big oil” constantly. If Barry is so anti big oil, why has he dropped the ball completely on this?
Report Post »thegodfather
Posted on February 25, 2011 at 9:08amThank you Al Gore and your global warming religion. As always. misguided and ignorant liberal policies always seem to have…“unintended consequences”…like millions of people starving to death.
The blood is on YOUR hands Al. Then again..I hear your stock in GE windmills is going gangbusters. Time to buy a 4th mansion.
Report Post »icediva
Posted on February 25, 2011 at 9:52amWhy should he care he made his millions. Do you actually think Gore has a conscience?? I just hope Tipper takes it all and he’s left homeless. What comes around goes around
Ranger5658
Posted on February 25, 2011 at 9:06amThere is not one governmental program that has’nt yielded un-intended consequences. How arrogant of our, “leaders”, to think they can control this situation. More intervention is exactly the wrong answer. Is there anyone else who has heard; “if you give a man a fish he will eat for a day…..”, but get out of his way and he will feed himself. Less government = more corn. Long live the free market.
Report Post »SheriS
Posted on February 25, 2011 at 9:05amInteresting Slick Willy would come out with his statement now! Where have you been Willy, a lot of Americans have been saying this for a long time! I grew up in farm country and this has been a known fact for a very long time, but Bozo in the WH doesn’t give a hoot what is good for America but only about his pathetic agenda that most Americans have never supported!
Report Post »mcFirst
Posted on February 25, 2011 at 9:03amToo much ethanol will clog up all your yard tool carberaters too.
Report Post »Bearfoot1
Posted on February 25, 2011 at 9:02amSo it only adds a small percentage to the cost of food, BS. Oh don’t count the subsities or the damage done to your engine or the political BS it takes to implement or the environmental resources used. Maybe the Clintons should stop burning fuel flying all over the place to spread the BS retoric.
Report Post »texasfarmer
Posted on February 25, 2011 at 9:01amIt took those bone heads this long to figure it out? You make gasoline with oil not food.
Report Post »Clinton gets soooo smart when it is advantageous.
Helldogger
Posted on February 25, 2011 at 9:00amDON’T USE ETHANOL!!! It is not refined enough & will NOT burn unless you heat it to a boil or mix it with a fammable fuel such as gasoline. It’s just another hoax & will screw up your fuel system. It will turn to sugar in your tank if not burned & turns to sugar in the tank at the station if not sold.
Report Post »There is 8X the oil in North Dakota as Saudi Arabia ever had. Drill here, Drill now. If you want a feasible alternative to gasoline, use hydrogen. Most available, most renewable energy source in the universe.
BibleGunClinger
Posted on February 25, 2011 at 9:42amTurns to sugar in your tank? Back that one up with evidence. What the hell have you been smoking?
Report Post »NickDeringer
Posted on February 25, 2011 at 9:00amWow. Who could have seen that coming?
Note to the clueless Progressive destroying our way of life: when you throw 25% of our food in the gas tank millions of people will starve.
Report Post »ksagpilot
Posted on February 25, 2011 at 8:58amDrill Baby Drill. Instead of curbing ethanol production, they are mandating increasing the amount of ethanol in gasoline. Not only does it take acres out of food production it ruins engines and engine components.
Report Post »icediva
Posted on February 25, 2011 at 8:55amUnemployment numbers come out yet??? Maybe thats what the greedy Bill Clinton should be talking about.
Report Post »kschmud
Posted on February 25, 2011 at 8:54amya think? Certain people have been talking about the stupidity of burning our food supply for years…the “president of the world” should have joined that converstion long before this
Report Post »LLATPOH
Posted on February 25, 2011 at 8:54amThis is incredibly simple. Stop subsidizing it, and let it survive on its own legs. If it walks, great. If it crumbles, the farmers will stop growing it, because it doesn’t turn a profit, and they‘ll go back to making stuff that’s in higher demand.
Same with milk. There are so many farmers that depend on subsidies that they don’t know how to efficiently manage what they have. These are commodities, and there will always be a need for them. Farmers will have to think a little differently to turn a profit, but that’s what a business does when the climate changes.
Report Post »icediva
Posted on February 25, 2011 at 8:53amPower corrupts!!! and screw everyone else. Palin had it right DRILL BABY DRILL!!
Report Post »walker1812
Posted on February 25, 2011 at 8:52amAt the same time he should have come out with a strong statement concerning increasing our domestic energy production. We should be drilling like crazy and building more nuclear power plants. What the heck is wrong with these politicians? They are run by a bunch of GREEN weenies!
Report Post »TrueGrit
Posted on February 25, 2011 at 10:00am@ walker1812
The US has the largest deposits of coal in all forms
and the recent descovery of possibly the world’s largest
oil fields out west
and nothing is being done.
These clowns are just hoping any of the recent protests turn violent
enough to go to Martial Law and all it entails.
They are hoping this all happens and can be put in place
long efore the next election.
Under Martial Law… elections are postponed
MEANING
the ‘walks like a duck (may be muslim),
talks like a duck (may be muslim)
remains in power.
Never mind growing corn….
America needs to grow guts!
Wolverine
Report Post »ISeeDanger.com
Posted on February 25, 2011 at 8:52am$7 a gallon gas is NOT a crisis. Not being able to buy gas at $7 a gallon is. People will be screaming for ethanol when this happens next year. Do you see the danger? What happens to your life when you CAN’T get gas? Not just pay a high amount for it. We will NOT take action until it is too late. Sorry.
Report Post »icediva
Posted on February 25, 2011 at 10:00amThat was the plan when these clowns took power. Now they are just gonna squeeze everyone till they have no choice but WHAT Obama and pals want.
Report Post »APatriotFirst
Posted on February 25, 2011 at 10:34amObama will tell us the problem and then tell us if we just vote for him, he will solve the problem.
Report Post »Haditwgov
Posted on February 25, 2011 at 8:51amWow, Billy it took you this long to figure it out! Maybe we could get the Fed to abandon QE 2 while we are at it. Might get gov’t out if the way and allow an actual recovery.
Report Post »Psychosis
Posted on February 25, 2011 at 8:47amnot only does ethanol burn food, it lowers mpg causing more emissions and fuel to be used while at the same time causing damage to engines and burning out cadalidic converters which end up in the dump adding to pollution
this makes absolutely no sense, unless of course your the farmer getting the kickbacks and the production company getting huge sums of money from uncle sam
Report Post »Lloyd Drako
Posted on February 25, 2011 at 10:48amOr unless you’re the politician from Iowa or Nebraska basking in the love of your corn-raising constituents.
Report Post »colliemom
Posted on February 25, 2011 at 8:46amAnother liberal idea failure… If you look into this boondoggle you’ll find that is process uses tremondous amounts of water. They tried to put one of these plants here and it was fought against it because of water uses. This is the stupidest idea. Oh but they made lots of money. Money that will be worthless soon..
Report Post »tobywil2
Posted on February 25, 2011 at 8:42amTHE GREAT “GLOBAL WARMING HOAX”
The proposals to combat “GLOBAL WARMING” have more potential to destroy our freedom and prosperity than any issue since WORLD WAR II. The cost of energy is increased by all these proposals. Energy is contained in all the products used to sustain our lives.
These proposals will be devastating to the poor, where the cost of survival consumes all their income.
Do you realize that these proposals are to combat an issue that has not even been proven to exist?
AND YOU LAUGH AT DON QUIXOTE?
THESE PROPOSALS WILL ONLY ENHANCE THE POWER OF THE “PEERS.” “CAP AND TRADE WILL DESTROY YOUR WEALTH AND FREEDOM!!
BRACE YOURSELF, THOMAS PAINE, REJOICE YOU “PEERS” THE TYRANNY OF
Report Post »KING GEORGE III IS BEING RESTORED BUT UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT!
http://commonsense21c.com/CLIMATE.html
getperks
Posted on February 25, 2011 at 9:59amIf we drilled for corn…..Would the hole be a “Corn Hole”? rotflmao
Report Post »13th Imam
Posted on February 25, 2011 at 10:12amAnd BJ is the gusher of cornholes
Report Post »grandmaof5
Posted on February 25, 2011 at 8:42amThe answer is to DRILL, DRILL, DRILL.
Report Post »MrButcher
Posted on February 25, 2011 at 9:11amdrill for corn?
just joking.
you’re right.
Report Post »GulfPeg
Posted on February 25, 2011 at 9:24amI don’t know why both Democrats and Republicans in Washington do absolutely NOTHING about drilling for oil! And, Obamie is more worried about the votes from the “homos” than he is about the really big issues, like price of food and drilling for oil.
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on February 25, 2011 at 9:28am@Gulfpeg
Obamas and his administrations plan is simple: Pressure and more pressure until something gives in the end; something they can use for the final crackdown upon the nation.
Report Post »grandmaof5
Posted on February 25, 2011 at 9:50amThank you, MR BUTCHER, good chuckle!
Report Post »butler180
Posted on February 25, 2011 at 10:15amYou are right as we have enough oil here for our needs. We can drill, we can get it out of shale etc.
Report Post »The very, very sad reality is that it is going to take deaths in the cities (Dem’s basis) from lack of heating oil to get moving on drilling again. Either there will be no oil because of the Middle-East or the prices will be so high they will not be able to afford to buy the oil.
The Prez and his tsars are out of their minds
Lloyd Drako
Posted on February 25, 2011 at 10:35amGrandma is right, we should be drilling like a mofo.
But let’s not be under any delusions that this will do more than slightly flatten the rising energy-cost curve.
Oil from deepwater platforms,tar sands and oil shale will be more expensive to get at than oil from those old gushers you used to see on schoolroom maps of Texas.
Not to mention the rising demand for oil (only temporarily softened by the recession) from people in China and India who have no business driving Buicks and eating porterhouse steaks.
Report Post »Uncle Crusty
Posted on February 25, 2011 at 12:56pmDrill here, drill now! Then we divert 37% of the corn back to food…a travesty, much like to save a smelt fish they dry up perfectly good agrigculture land, makes no sense to me? We have enough oil here to bridge the gap to alternative energy. Why not use cold fusion, dispursed through neighborhoods, can’t use it for dirty bomb either…so it is expensive to install, it would pay for itself in 10 years! Crap, we all just need to put our heads together, not fight and act like a bunch of babies, on both sides! I am a conservative constitutionalist, and I believe we can find solutions to ANYTHING, if we put our minds to it! God Bless America!
Report Post »orlandojon
Posted on February 25, 2011 at 8:42amsimply stop subsidizing farmers to grow trash corn which is used to make High Fructose Corn Syrup and ethanol. They will go back to growing food
Report Post »smithclar3nc3
Posted on February 25, 2011 at 9:04amThe whole ethanol thing was tried and failed in the late 70‘s and early 80’s. They fact that Dems tried to push this STUPID IDEA again only shows the depth of their insanity. Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different results. Coal liquification is the true answer the problem is the dems are anti-coal. They would rather see 7.00 a gallon imported gas than 2.00 a gallon liquified domestic coal fuel. They in short would sell out America than break their own beliefs system by admitting they are wrong. IT’S TIME WE REMOVE THE PARTY SYSTEM AND VOTE AMERICA FIRST CANDIDATES .We need representatives who represent the people and America not representatives who represent the money and special interest groups. OR IT’S TIME TO REVOLT.
Report Post »I prefer a civil changing of the guards but I will fight if duty calls.
Lloyd Drako
Posted on February 25, 2011 at 10:27amA lot of trash corn also goes to feed livestock.
It won’t go down well when I say this, but if Americans ate about half as much meat as they do, they’d be healthier and also take some pressure off food prices.
But I suppose there’s little hope of persuading newly-affluent middle-class people in China to do the same.
Report Post »RLTW
Posted on February 25, 2011 at 12:27pmThis all could have been avoided, but Bush powered his weather control machine by throwing gold from Ft Knox into vats of ethanol, that’s how he took out N.O.L.A.
On a serious note, friends of mine in farm land tell me these energy crops are jumping to food crops which are causing problems.
Report Post »kickagrandma
Posted on February 25, 2011 at 8:41amToo much billclinton sparks food riots!
Report Post »JohnQTaxpayer
Posted on February 25, 2011 at 11:09amFood Riots
Are they the same as; go and get a new flat screen TV Riot or
I am angry so I will burn down my house Riot?
or car jacking Riiots or
some other type of riots?
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on February 25, 2011 at 8:39amHe warns of food riots across the world; and not one mention anywhere by him or other progressives on potential for food riots here at home when prices start going through the roof. If these ethanol and other restritctions were curbed, and not shoved down our collective throats by the EPA and other enemies of the nation via the administration, we would have more availible for home and abroad.
Report Post »what4
Posted on February 25, 2011 at 8:49amEthanol is a really cornie idea!
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on February 25, 2011 at 9:02am@What4
I wonder how many people understand that ethanol in it‘s most basic form is called ’White lightning‘ or the more knowable name of ’Moonshine Whisky.’
Report Post »what4
Posted on February 25, 2011 at 9:19amThat explains why NASCAR is using it …LOL
Report Post »13th Imam
Posted on February 25, 2011 at 9:32amB J Clinton has finally figured out that if you place corn oil drilling rigs all thru the Midwest and the North Slope that sooner rather than later there will be a massive spill of crude corn oil. It will be terrible to see all those animals cookin up as the global warming (created by conservatives and republicans)heats up this spilled corn oil. Barry Barack Hossein Obama Soetoro should put a corn oil drilling ban on right now before a disaster happens.
Report Post »Highland
Posted on February 25, 2011 at 9:33amSeriously, if you have a little room in your back yard, grow corn.
Report Post »TheBMT
Posted on February 25, 2011 at 9:53amBrazil has a sustainable ethanol economy with their sugar cane.
But really we should allow the ability to grow hemp which has a higher ethanol content then corn.
Report Post »what4
Posted on February 25, 2011 at 9:55amHighland
The price of water makes growing corn, cost prohibitive! just saying…
Report Post »Lloyd Drako
Posted on February 25, 2011 at 10:12amSnowleopard:
Report Post »FYI, lots of cars made in America ran on what was called “farm alcohol” (i.e., ethanol) until Prohibition made it illegal.
SlimnRanger
Posted on February 25, 2011 at 10:22amhere in this nation we can grow all the corn we need for food and ethonal,one problem is our government pays many farmers to let their fields lay unplanted,corn prices continue to rise, causing feed prices to soar to feed cattle, hogs, chickens and so on,thus increasing food prices for we the people,if corn prices keep rising many small time farmers like me will be forced to sell our livestock because we can’;t afford the feed to feed them,so lets get rid of the farm subdizes and allow the farmers to plant all the corn they wish
Report Post »Untameable-kate
Posted on February 25, 2011 at 10:59amHi Snow, I’m back. I’ve just been busy and I wound up getting too disgusted to discuss anything rationally.
Report Post »The amazing thing about all the committed left is that while they crow on about needing to be energy independent, they will not accept that maybe it would be a good idea to drill for our own oil here. They can’t help themselves, they say one thing (any subject) then crawfish around trying to figure out how they can retract it. They manage to lie in circles.
Uncle Crusty
Posted on February 25, 2011 at 12:12pmThe Model A Ford was first made to be run on PEANUT OIL! Water was the exhaust, if memory serves me! What do do with the used oil though? Oh yeah cook french fries, ummmm, and then recycle it to make more for the cars! Imagine that…
Report Post »mrclean
Posted on February 25, 2011 at 2:00pmDid I read somewhere that ethanol seriously damages engines??
Report Post »79USMC83
Posted on February 25, 2011 at 8:39amThe Wisconsin and Indiana Dems are TRAITORS : One who betrays another’s trust and is false to an obligation and or DUTY. They should be tried for TREASON :: the offense of attempting by overt acts to overthrow the government of the state to which the offender owes allegiance or to kill or personally injure the sovereign or the sovereign’s
It is obvious by the way the “Speech Giver” and the Dems handled “Health-Care they have NO RESPECT for the Constitution or for the PROCEDURE. Lets just STOP enforcing the LAWS of the land.
This is the most dangerous President to have ever been elected. He is selling out America and Americans. Not ONE word about the four AMERICANS killed by pirates. This man is a disgrace !!!
They want a Revolution well they have no idea what one will be like !!!
BETTER DEAD THAN RED !!!!
TERM LIMITS NOW !!
FAIR TAX NOW !
Report Post »cnsrvtvj
Posted on February 25, 2011 at 8:45amWow! You just figured that out Bill? I think most people don’t realize what this whole ethanol program has really cost us. It has affected food prices and food supply around the world. It is no different than the green energy movement. It sounds great, but it just doesn’t have a positive overall impact in reality. There is a huge windmill farm near my house that the politicians are always pointing out how environmentally responsible they were for putting it there. The truth is that once they spent the millions building it, they found it how inefficient it really was. It’s not even hooked up to the grid. But it sure looks good.
http://www.donsmithshow.com – see the get hypocrisy moving video
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on February 25, 2011 at 8:56am@CnsrvtvJ
The problem with the professional politicians is they do not care what happens to the rest of us so long as they can get the votes to stay in power; this is not including the ones who honestly attempt to do their jobs and the will of the people who voted them in office.
To them, as they are used to having an unlimited supply of renewable money, or print more when we need it attitude, they assume the same is true for their food supplies and fuel supplies; the laws of economics are simple, you have less of one product, and more demand for the product, then the prices will keep going up.
The current administration and the progressives are aware of this, and are using it as part of their own agenda to destabalize the world, and this country as well; how soon does anyone think those of us who are at the bottom level of the economy can last when prices start going through the roof?
And when that happens, then what will occur?
Think on it.
Report Post »TexasCommonSense
Posted on February 25, 2011 at 8:56amWhy not turn food into fuel? After all, oil is a fuel of the past. I suggest we try magic fairy dust, too.
Report Post »watchtheotherhand
Posted on February 25, 2011 at 8:57amThere goes that crazy ole GB again with his “sky is falling” fear mongering antics…….Huh ……..what?…..Oh Bill Clinton….sorry,,,,,nevermind.
Report Post »AzDebi
Posted on February 25, 2011 at 8:59amShut up and sit down BILL! Are you people as stupid as you think WE are? It is WAY BEYOND insanity…the cat is out of the bag as far as just what Mr. Clinton did to this country…and his wife as well!
Report Post »BehindBlueEyes
Posted on February 25, 2011 at 9:04am@79USMC83
Report Post »Your assessment of the speech giver matches my opinion exactly. I couldn’t have said it better.
getperks
Posted on February 25, 2011 at 9:04amThe key word is subsidizing. More of our tax money used to purchase votes for democrats from their life sucking lobbyists. We can do better than this.
Report Post »cnsrvtvj
Posted on February 25, 2011 at 9:09am@Snow – You’re right, it’s all about the votes. Look at the President this week on the gay marriage situation. Case closed.
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on February 25, 2011 at 9:14am@AZdebi
The damage the Clintons have done and are still doing is amazing; I have to wonder if old Bill is just upset that his favorite moonshine dealer decided it was easier to sell the stuff as fuel instead of selling it to Bill, Hillary, and Pelosi.
By the way, do you have any idea whatever happened to the one Blazer who went by the name of Untamable Kate? She mentioned one time when we had the counterfeiter problem she changed her user name, and am still wondering whatever happened.
Report Post »DashRipRock
Posted on February 25, 2011 at 9:26amThis is what cracks me up.
These Global Warming nuts / EnviroMental’s
Wanted Ethonal to save the planet
So they lobbied and got the 2005 energy bill
that mandates our current use of Ethanol
Only America Couldnt grow enough Ethanol
Ut OOOOH
So now we are buying Ethanol at alarming rates
From Brazil
Which means Brazil is chopping down
the RAIN FORREST as fast as they can
to sell us Ethanol
say goodbye to your Precious Rain Forrest you
LIBERAL MORONS
Report Post »Bullcop34
Posted on February 25, 2011 at 9:40amMy question is why in the world is Clinton speaking to the Ag departmentabout ethanol anyway? Is it because his handler is the Sec. of State that he thinks he still has a voice in goverment? Last I checked, he is not a member of government.
Report Post »staggerlee32
Posted on February 25, 2011 at 9:45amThe only reason Clinton is saying anything about this so He and Hillary have some more bullets to use when they run against Obama. This is not really about “green”… this is part of the bigger conspiracy of top down, bottom up. The NWO elitists only want 500,000,000 serfs. They are using every tool available… war, riots, vaccines/drugs, food/Monsanto, etc….
Report Post »Oh, God!
Posted on February 25, 2011 at 9:46am@ DASHRIPROCK-you also have to remember that farmers get paid not to grow crops. Started with FDR where the farmers set aside 20% of their farmland to not grow anything and got money from the government to do this. FDR’s vision carried through to the 21st century. Why would we buy it from somewhere else when we are more than capable of growing it here?
Report Post »ILFarmer
Posted on February 25, 2011 at 10:04amWe produce SO much Corn in the US. that we can produce Ethanol and still have plenty left to go around. It’s just a scare tactic that sadly Beck has pick up. My dad has tried to correct him several times on this. Besides, there are other plants that can be used to produce ethanol and even do it more efficiently than corn. Don‘t let the Left try and get us spooked over something that just isn’t.
Blackhawk1
Posted on February 25, 2011 at 10:05amJust another failed liberal idea that they somehow couldn’t see the unintended consequences even though they were told by conservatives. How much more do we have to endure because of liberal failures?
Report Post »Lloyd Drako
Posted on February 25, 2011 at 10:06am@Dashriprock:
The supposed aim of the ethanol subsidy was not to “save the planet,” since ethanol produces about as much CO2 as regular gasoline.
Its aim was twofold: to lessen US dependence on foreign energy sources, and to gratify farm state politicians.
As you say, the first aim has not been realized, but the second surely has, and is the main reason why it will not be easy to get rid of this monstrosity.
Report Post »missionarydad
Posted on February 25, 2011 at 10:11amSNOWLEOPARD, I also was wondering what happened to untamablekate. I had asked that question a couple weeks ago in a post and did not receive any reply. I believe she responded to one of my posts about 1 month ago and I have not seen her back on. I was also wondering if anyone knows what happened to Obamaworshoiper or however he misspelled it? I always enjoyed both of their posts as I am one of th ones who have been posting since day 1 of the Blaze and I believe you have also.
Report Post »RN MOM
Posted on February 25, 2011 at 10:12amI can hear it now “Drill, baby drill!“ ”Drill, Baby drill!” It is about time people pushed a fiscally responsible agenda. The American people deserve better than these ignoramuses making laws. BJ and the bear need to retire, no one wants their legislation. We can pin most of this crisis on his own policies.
Report Post »bccrane
Posted on February 25, 2011 at 10:22am@ILFARMER
Report Post »You are correct when corn is fed direct to animals the animals only use the fat and protein from the corn and very little of the starch. When the corn is fed through the ethanol plant first the starch is converted to ethanol and the fat and protein is left over which is then fed to the animals who can digest it more efficiently. This part seems to be always lost in the conversation also soybean oil is a byproduct in the process to make animal feed. Corn sent to say Ethiopia is usually never distributed to the people because our yellow corn is considered animal feed and we are degrading them by making them eat animal feed.
IronSights
Posted on February 25, 2011 at 10:36amLet’s see……. food shortage, so government must incorporate farming so they can manage the product that is grown and distribute that production of food fairly for the greater good. Excellent way to manifest a land grab in my opinion and control the food supply. By default, farmers become employee’s of the “state”. It sounds like a reach, however (comma) with past performance of our current dictators I wouldn’t put it past them. Oh and Bill…..don’t go away mad, please just go away……..far, far, far, far away.
Report Post »gofigureinternational
Posted on February 25, 2011 at 11:05amI know a couple C.E.O.’s of ethanol production facilities personally and the actual cost of corn is a relatively small percentage of the cost of a gallon of ethanol vs. energy, labor, transportation, etc. Whether you are for or against ethanol and leaving the “green” benefits or lack thereof out of the discussion, the primary reason that commodity prices have increased is the devaluation of the dollar (Fed Policy-quantitative easing, etc.) and the fact that oil has to date been traded in the U.S. Dollar. Oil goes up, corn, soybeans, etc. go up…again this is generalizing, but in the interest of brevity, they tend to follow each other (it also increases other foods due to ancillary costs such as in meat due to feeding out the animals, transportation, etc.). Additionally, the Federal Government has been paying farmers to take land OUT of production for 25 years+ under the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) which further distorts the “free market”. If you want to weaken the U.S., you control their access to cheap petroleum sources. How many battle groups run on electricity or natural gas? Yes there are a few Nuclear Submarines, but not the lion’s share of machines. If you eliminate the domestic drilling, which they have done through moratoriums and converting a great deal of our land into BLM land so it cannot be drilled on and you eliminate Bio Fuel production, you have CRIPPLED both the economy and the military. Now it could be argued that the price of crude is going to skyrocket with the unrest of the Middle East, what happens if chaos breaks out or we have an attack by any enemy? How do we fuel both our economy and our military to even defend itself? Through purchasing oil? With what? The dollar has been destroyed in the world currency market by the Fed and our creditors know the U.S. is nearly ready to default due to uncontrolled deficit spending. We have alienated most of our Allies, so who would even want to help when the proverbial excrement hits the fan? We have also weakened our ability to quickly manufacture military equipment to re-supply if anything did break out by shipping our infrastructure overseas, such as foundries, steel production and much of the machine tool business thanks to NAFTA and giving China MFN status back when Clinton was in office. Coincidentally, that is when China was also sold 600 super computers advancing their military decades and some Los Alamos Top Secret info was stolen. Make no mistake, this country is being systematically weakened and I would argue it is a real stretch to believe it is all happenstance. Sure it is possible, just not probable.
Report Post »stifroc
Posted on February 25, 2011 at 11:27amAverage Corn yields in America are 155 bushels per acre.
1 bushel of corn (53lbs) makes 2.26 gallons of ethanol.
1 Acre of corn (4.1 TONS of corn) creates 350 gallons of ethanol.
1 gallon of Ethanol produces 27% LESS energy than gasoline.
1 Acre of corn (4.1 TONS of corn) can feed 50 people for almost 4 months.
How many gallons of gasoline does this country consume in a day? How many acres of corn are BURNED UP in our gas tanks? I am sorry but there is not enough LAND in the world to make enough corn to replace gasoline, or even be a viable energy source.
Why is ethanol NOT going away? Why is ethanol now a “proud sponsor” of Nascar? Why will all of Nascar be using new engines to accommodate ethanol blended fuel by 2011? Because of the $$$ alllllll the government subsidies (our taxes) available to anyone who creates or implements the use of ethanol. I better not hear anyone bashing big oil anymore because Big Government Ethanol is WAY more destructive and insidious. I wonder if Democrats and bureaucrats could be a viable energy substitute?
Report Post »watchtheotherhand
Posted on February 25, 2011 at 11:38amWhat everyone seems to be forgetting in their attempts to justify growing corn for ethanol is that regardless of what it is used for and what is done with it. A new market force has been introduced into the growing of a commodity that has always been used for or in food production in one way or another that will drive food prices higher as demand increases faster than supply. It is an undisputed fact that world food supplies have continued to decrease as well as suitable farmland. However, it is prices that are the greatest cause of starvation not supply (at this point)……..The world produces enough food to feed everyone. World agriculture produces 17 percent more calories per person today than it did 30 years ago, despite a 70 percent population increase. This is enough to provide everyone in the world with at least 2,720 kilocalories (kcal) per person per day (FAO 2002, p.9). The principal problem is that many people in the world do not have sufficient land to grow, or income to purchase, enough food………http://www.worldhunger.org/articles/Learn/world%20hunger%20facts%202002.htm
It is the economic pressure from growing food for fuel that then leads to more starvation and hunger.
Report Post »DashRipRock
Posted on February 25, 2011 at 11:42amgofigureinternational
Grain Prices started rising long before the FEDs current
Quantitative Easing cycle
Report Post »DashRipRock
Posted on February 25, 2011 at 11:48amGLENN
Just got that wrong
This current Quantitative Easing cycle is not
mature enough to cause inflation
If Inflation were anywhere near this current easing cycle
The Fed would be raising interest rates…period
He is right about the growing feul part causing this problem
Report Post »because it has been going on long enough to effect prices
watchtheotherhand
Posted on February 25, 2011 at 11:57am@ GOFIGUREINTERNATIONAL……………Leaving ground fallow for a season is very good stewardship of the health of the land and goes back to biblical principles and times (yes even with current fertilizers). It is a known fact. That program was to help farmers economically with this most wise (and advantageous for us) practice. Fields left fallow periodically have been shown to produce more in the years they are farmed over the same length of time for fields that are not left fallow. Now while I cannot intelligently comment on abuses or how much land is appropriate to lay fallow that is another topic. But the practice is a proven one.
Report Post »Uncle Crusty
Posted on February 25, 2011 at 12:04pmDrill here, drill now! Then we divert 37% of the corn back to food…a travesty, much like to save a smelt fish they dry up perfectly good agrigculture land, makes no sense to me? We have enough oil here to bridge the gap to alternative energy. Why not use cold fusion, dispursed through neighborhoods, can’t use it for dirty bomb either…so it is expensive to install, it would pay for itself in 10 years! Crap, we all just need to put our heads together, not fight and act like a bunch of babies, on both sides! I am a conservative constitutionalist, and I believe we can find solutions to ANYTHING, if we put our minds to it! God Bless America!
Report Post »watchtheotherhand
Posted on February 25, 2011 at 12:11pmHere is a source for my last post !!!!!!
http://www.helium.com/items/279699-letting-farmland-lay-fallow-farmers-vs-environmental-needs
Report Post »DashRipRock
Posted on February 25, 2011 at 12:20pmwatchtheotherhand
An Opinion peice is your source???
Here is my source the PRICE CHART of Wheat
notice its steady climp after 2005
http://futures.tradingcharts.com/chart/CW/M
THATS NOT OPINION
THATS THE REAL PRICE
ID TELL YOU TO DO THE MATH BUT….
Report Post »teachermitch32
Posted on February 25, 2011 at 12:36pmstifroc
Regarding the use of our unconstitutional politicians as bio-fuel???? Soilent green comes to mind. It might solve our food shortage and cost problems.
Report Post »watchtheotherhand
Posted on February 25, 2011 at 12:37pm@ DASH….my friend I am in agreement with you first. And that is not an opinion piece that was a world respected author on the topic whose articles have been featured in numerous journals around the world. It was written in a lay person style because of the audience. Finally what in the world does your retort have to do with the price of rice in China to what I was stating that is an accepted and proven farming practice. One of my best friends is a federal land conservation official that is over most of the entire Southern Indian farming region and has, I am assuming, a tad more education than all of us combined on this topic and he is most definitely in favor of the practice as he has shown me figures on the productivity benefits.
Report Post »watchtheotherhand
Posted on February 25, 2011 at 12:39pm@ DASH …….maybe you should read my other posts more closely before you pop off with friendly fire !!!
Report Post »DashRipRock
Posted on February 25, 2011 at 12:47pmI read your post
I dont have a problem with the body of the statement
Just the QUANTITAIVE EASING part
as a trader the last thing I ever read
is some EXPERTS OPINION
Many a trading house has gone bust doing just that
but that chart I just put up thats the real deal
and I have tons of charts like that especialy when it come to currency trading
Granted, Knowing the fundementals helps
But hokey religions and superstitious beliefs
Report Post »are now substitue for a good PRCIE CHART
(thats sort of a Han Solo quote)
DashRipRock
Posted on February 25, 2011 at 1:06pmWatch the Other hand
I re-read the tread
and one of my responces should have been to Go Figure International
at least where the quantitative easy statement was concerned
Sorry
but Ill still stand by my price charts … lol
Report Post »cartercupp
Posted on February 25, 2011 at 1:22pmGlenn and Bill are both right (correct?).
http://www.cartercupp.info/corn-gas.html
Report Post »michael48
Posted on February 25, 2011 at 1:34pmthe only object the DEM-WITS haven’t taxed is a BLACK HOLE….but a study group is looking at the UNFAIR advantage that BLACKHOLES have in defering the tax schedule….coming soon a UNIVERSAL TAX WHATEVER plan…..probably limited to 4 TRILLION PAGES or so….
Report Post »Rowgue
Posted on February 25, 2011 at 1:53pm@LLOYD
Actually the goal of ethanol was to save the planet. It was the number one priority by all the save the planet organizations. They have since of course changed their stance and are now fighting to get rid of ethanol because it’s actually worse than petroleum based fuels environmentally.
But it’s primary original goal was environmental. They got behind an idea before they had any hard facts about it. They fell for a warm fuzzy idea and not reality. It took years of study after study after study showing that enthanol is bad in every way to get them to change their thinking.
Report Post »mrclean
Posted on February 25, 2011 at 1:56pm@79usa83
“They want a Revolution well they have no idea what one will be like !!!”
You are right about that…… and talk about high prices now on food and fuel, well, if we have a revolution THEY AIN’T SEEN NOTHING YET. Reading “Valley Forge” by Newt Gingrich would open their eyes on the horror of war on the populace, but it would be exponentially worse if it happened now.
NO, we do not need to court the possibility of a revolution being a good idea because it would for sure destroy every aspect of the USA.
Report Post »silentwatcher
Posted on February 25, 2011 at 2:45pmand they say “The ethanol industry long has said that its production does not significantly drive up food prices and that the price of corn contributes to a tiny percentage of every food dollar.”
That, my fellow Americans,,,,is a bold and blatant LIE. Corn is a PRINCIPLE staple in the american diet. It is use to feed livestock and is use is so much in our diets that most people really don’t realize how much.
It also takes a lot of energy and an EXTREMELY large amount of water to produce ethenal. When this was pushed on the american public, it was a lie.
When “corn fuel” was pushed into american lives, it was a financial rape of the american citizen. Corn prices as the mills almost doubled. Believe it or not……just sayin’
Report Post »watchtheotherhand
Posted on February 25, 2011 at 3:14pm@ DASH…………is OK. I agree with your charts and have no issue with what you stated I was retorting to the same fella you were about an assumption he asserted that is entirely accurate which serves to strengthen your point. No harm no foul. I find that most of the time our views line up quite nicely !!!!!
Report Post »independentvoteril
Posted on February 25, 2011 at 3:34pm@cnsrvtvj.. apparently good old boy Bill hasn’t been to the store since he ran for office… LOL.. he hasn’t noticed the increased food prices.. Nice you have a windmill.. they sure do NOT look nice.. they would look nice if they were like they were in HOLLAND small and in yards.. THEY actually worry me what happens if one falls, loses a blade while in action… I have seen the size of them up close (on a truck) just the momentum of them as they go around coupled with their weight could do some real damage to people and homes if one comes loose and goes flying..
Report Post »silentwatcher
Posted on February 25, 2011 at 3:36pmand since someone mentioned ‘farm subsidies’…..here is my view. I understand that it is good practice to ‘fallow’ the ground,,,,to not ‘overproduce’ and strip the nutrients out of the soils. But that program has gotten so out of hand that it should be thoroughly audited. I own land, but do not farm it (just produce enough vegies, fruit, and livestock to keep my pantries and freezers full) I have been asked by several other land owners why I don‘t get in on the ’program‘ and get free government money to ’not farm’ the land, that they do. My comment is always the same,,,,I’m not a farmer. In my mind, that is fraud.
Report Post »watchtheotherhand
Posted on February 25, 2011 at 4:14pm@ SILENTWATCHER,……absolutely ditto. I believe also “that there be some fraud goin’ on”. I am all for rootin’ out the crap. Just not throwin’ the baby out with the bath water. Right with ya though 100%
Report Post »Smitty1969
Posted on February 25, 2011 at 6:27pmSnowleopard {gallery of cat folks}&cnsrvtvj work for BLAZE they deleted my post in the question of this??????????????
Report Post »avenger
Posted on February 25, 2011 at 7:21pmforget fuel…make corn likker….
Report Post »stevefim5
Posted on February 25, 2011 at 8:01pmAnd am I the only one pissed off about the significant drop in my car’s fuel economy due to this ethanol crap?!
Report Post »DisillusionedDaily
Posted on February 25, 2011 at 8:40pmIt seems to me that Soros is heavily invested in commodities. Corn and other foods are commodities, aren’t they? So is cotton. Synthetic fabrics are made from petroleum as are plastics and many building materials, so why is drilling for oil banned by this admin? Creating shortages is how Obama is going to get his revolution and he is damn sure taking all the necessary steps to create the shortages he needs.
How much longer before people have had enough of this crap and demand impeachment?
Report Post »adastra2005
Posted on February 25, 2011 at 9:18pmMaybe they wanted to be the catalyst of a worldwide uprising. So many, many years ago, when OPEC was formed, there was talk about how the US was able, but wouldn’t, use food as a counter to OPEC. We “owned” the food production. The US would never do that because we have morals. Obama did it, because he is a chucklehead. OK, for those that can’t make the connection . . . 40% of the corn produced in the US (bare in mind corn is “the world’s primary food”) is subsidised/directed to ethanol. A Hershey’s Chocolate Bar is a better, more reasonable “alternative energy” source than corn ethanol.
Report Post »_waTson_
Posted on February 26, 2011 at 4:56am……. and everything seemed to be going along real well until OLD UNFAITHFUL!! said this:
“ food riots in poor nations” and then again in “developing countries”
umm, Billy the pizza eater, roll tape back and change that to … “agricultural employees should worry about domestic production!!! because ranchers and farmers in this country can barely afford the corn they need to make a damn living.
NOTE TO BILLY!!! ~~~~~~> RANCHERS (you know the ones that grow beef) BEEF (that’s where hamburger and steak come from) are at the point where we can barely feed the corn to cows.
it’s off the map, so please GET REAL and tell the truth: ethanol fuel is a huge disaster. everyone knows this. it’s the elephant in the living room that noone wants to look at.
Report Post »booya_1086
Posted on February 27, 2011 at 11:58amthey better not mess with my corn
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