"I really would like to vote for this bill because we desperately need an energy bill. The world and particularly the United States faces a real challenge on energy in the future. But I cannot vote for this bill primarily because of the corn ethanol mandate. A recent article in The Economist noted that our use of corn for ethanol doubled the price of corn about a year ago. Farmers then moved lands from soybeans and what would have been in soybeans and wheat to corn. We now have further increased the cost of corn and we've increased the cost of soybeans and wheat the world around. And one of the members of the United Nations says what we've done is a crime against humanity. The effect we've had on gasoline use has been absolutely trifling. The National Academy of Sciences says that if we converted all of our corn, all of our corn, to ethanol and discounted for fossil fuel input it would displace 2.4% of our gasoline. Mr. Chairman, this really represents one of those times as the old farmer says that 'the juice ain't worth the squeezing.' We can do better."
-- Rep. Roscoe Bartlett (R-Md.), on why he voted against HR-6, the energy bill passed today by the House of Representatives
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wesrolley Posted 12:46 pm
18 Dec 2007
Bartlett may have something right.
The Financial Times reported on 12/11/2007 that the effects of rising prices and grain shortages are being felt on the world markets.
Take a look at every packaged food you pick up and see how many contain "high fructose corn syrup". We will pay for this new energy bill in the grocery store.We may not have the time for incremental gains in one area (CAFE) when we give them back in others. This is yet another reasons that I firmly believe that there needs to be an alternative to corporate Democrats that is not spelled "Republican."
Wes Rolley CoChair - EcoAction Committee Green Party US
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Ekirky Posted 1:41 pm
18 Dec 2007
it's ironic....
Cheap corn has wreaked havoc on our society: it helped create the obesity epidemic and the diabetes epidemic, it helped create the world of processed food, it helped to feed the growth of fast food chains and supermarkets and, with them, the growth of strip malls and sprawling suburbs. (Quick plug: everyone should watch the movie King Corn. Google it. It's awesome.)
So any increase in the price of corn would seem like a very good thing...
and yet ethanol is dumb on so many levels.
Short-sighted government policy created our corn surplus in the first place, at great enviornmental and societal cost. Now short-sighted government policy is going to dispose of that surplus in the dumbest possible way.
ARGGHHH.
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Ron Steenblik Posted 4:55 pm
18 Dec 2007
Well put, Ekirky
How refreshing to learn of a member of Congress with backbone.
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bookerly Posted 5:58 pm
18 Dec 2007
Bravo!!!
Congrats to Congressman Bartlett!! I will tell my parents that a Republican has said something I agree with!!
Shame on those in both parties who have sold us out for their pockets full of gold (campaign gold that is!).
patrick in Beijing
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bookerly Posted 7:06 pm
18 Dec 2007
And A link
http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/12/17/europe/food.php
Ethanol will kill the poor.
patrick in Beijing
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