Yes to ethanol — and all alternative energy
On July 13, 2009 the new crop bid for corn was $2.90 at the local elevators. Our cost of production is approx. $4.00, depending on how much the crop yields. I was told by an elevator manager that there is a mountain of surplus corn on hand. Yet we fight wars to import precious oil from the middle east.
I would think any reasonable person could understand that every unit of evergy we produce in this country would help keep our dollars at home as we wouldn’t have to send them to our enemies who turn around and use them to support terrorism. These people tolerate us because they want our dollars and we pay homage to them (ie bowing to kiss their hand).
This country would quickly grind to a halt without an energy supply. I mentioned that we fight wars for this and spill the blood of our young men and women in the process. (If you don’t think we fight for oil, then ask yourself why we’re not at war with North Korea.) Taking into consideration that our lawmakers are in bed with the oil lobbyists it will be hard for anything to change. Just for once wouldn’t it be great if our lawmakers would consider the good of the country instead of just the big oil interests?
When I read that some in the boating industry complain that ethanol is bad for their boat motors (even though it has been proven otherwise). I wonder just how unpatriotic and selfish people can be. Have they ever taken into consideration how some young military person has given their life or limbs just so they can take their pleasure cruises on the lake?
I say “Yes” to Ethanol and every other type of alternative energy that this country can produce!.
Kenneth Schuster
Blackwater, Mo.
I couldn’t agree with you more. This country’s future rests in alternative energies. It could offer both a higher level of security and self-sufficiency as well as future prosperity. The big business of the future will be in alternative energy, and any country that can get a head start in that industry is helping themselves more than we know. There are some great interviews with both researchers and CEOs/presidents of businesses associated with alternative energies at http://www.ourblook.com/component/option,com_sectionex/Itemid,200076/id,8/view,category/#catid92 which I have found very useful on these subjects.
There’s simply more units of energy in gasoline than ethanol; it takes piles of gasoline (petro et al) to convert corn to wheels spinning my car down the road; ethanol sucks water into drip tanks (boats & motorcycles) that must be consumed or dumped periodically. In a word, it’s lossy and just doesn’t make sense.
If we could get rid of the DoE, and [re-]make commerce legal in the USA, you could just take a shot at selling your goods on the market to those buyers that agree with you. Maybe after things collapse, you’ll get your chance.
Maybe we could have some “alternate energy” if libtards in congress wouldnt stop their construction. Ted “the swimmer” Kennedy wont allow a wind farm off of the Mass shore because it will effect his view. Babs “Thats condescending” Boxer wont let a solar farm be built in the California desert because it may harm sand fleas. Get rid of the NIMBY BANANA types and maybe we can finally prove that wind and solar will NOT provide enough power for us to use.
You know what will work? Its things we know plenty about; Our own oil reserves. Nuclear power. Coal.
Corn based ethanol is not the answer. Do some actual research and you will see what the in and out ratio of energy is for production. We don’t need California to build a solar farm. Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, West Texas, they will all do nicely as well. If what you say about Kennedy is true, then I guess we need to get the whip out. Bio diesel from algae sounds pretty promising as well. How about harvesting lightning? I’d like to know where those MIT guys are at on that. It’a gonna take a long time to get off of fossil fuels, but I think it can be done. Industrial hemp could answer a lot of our problems as well, but that would interfere with too many different interest’s profits. If you have to hard on for ethanol, try sugar ethanol, which is about 9 times more efficient to make.
So anyone who opposes you is shelfish and unpatriotic? Are you suggesting that US troops are in Afghanistan because of oil? The reasons for Iraq were explained in 2002 and 2003, and are the same reasons John Kerry used to justify his proposed invasion in 1997. Has it occurred to you that once demand for corn increases the price will increase too?
Mr. Schuster,
Here’s a thought. Stop growing corn! Seriously, if it cost more to produce that what you can sell it for STOP IT! Grow something else (one guy here suggested hemp - wonder why). Or grow nothing at all. This is economics 101. If people don’t need what you are selling, then you are being foolish to keep producing it. Eventually the demand for corn will outpace the supply and you aill be able to raise your price to the point that growing corn becomes profitable.
Trying to manipulate the demand side of corn is foolish. You do not have that kind of power. The power that you DO posess is the ability to manipulate the supply side.
As for ethanol, it is an inefficient way to get power to a piston. You evoke patriotism in your comments. If you really want to get us off of Saudi oil you would instead tout the ONLY domestic source capable of doing so in the next ten years. That is COAL. The United States is the Saudi Arabia of coal. We have more energy in the ground in our country than Saudia Arabia, but we are letting Pseudo intellectual America haters like Al Gore lead us off on a wild goose chase because of Carbon Dioxide.
Correct me if I’m wrong Kenneth. What do plants respire? CO2. CO2 is essential for plant growth, yet Al Gore is brainwashing people into thinking it’s a toxin.
Mr. Schuster,
You letter illustrates perfectly the irrational sense of entitlement held by American farmers. Why do you think farmers should be treated differently than all other businesses? The continued subsidies should offer a stark warning to those wishing for additional government programs. Once a favored group gets addicted to government handouts, it is almost impossible to wean them off of the gravy train. President Obama has indicated that he will end programs that do not work. In reality, this never happens. The entire department of Agriculture should be eliminated immediately.
The American farmer has been on the dole longer than any other receipient of government largesse. The myriad of programs for the benefits of the farm lobby have a horrible distortive effect on the economy. There is an enormous direct cost for the various subsidies. However, this is the tip of the iceberg. Food and energy prices are both far higher for the benefit of a small group of farmers. How can it be justified to make struggling families pay more for food and gas to allow a group of farmers (many well off) maintain the life style that they wish to live.
Actually David, as a percentage Americans spend far less on food than other countries.
Hemp can help a lot. Far superior as a biofuel. Plus it can save energy and toxins in production of paper and cloth. Not to mention the 100’s of other uses. Oh, but allowing hemp would send the wrong message.
“Grow something else (one guy here suggested hemp - wonder why).”
Are you insinuating that I have some hidden agenda to get industrial hemp on the market to soften the idea of the legalization of smokable cannabis, or do you genuinely wonder why?
As certified has said, and as a letter in todays paper happens to state, there are many, and I do mean many, uses for hemp. Do a little google action and you will see for yourself.