How much of our money and resources support farmers’ ethanol welfare?

If it's a fricking penny it's too much.

What's this about?

Ethanol is the dumbest thing ever invented. I mean seriously it's energy negative.

It’s great for the small engine manufacturers and repair industry. Many a carb has been permanently fricked by ethanol.

welfare to individuals, oils corps, farmers, etc. should all stop.

No one will EVER cut this though. Can you imagine how the other side will spin it?

Republicans cut it, Democrats will cry:

"You hate farmers."
"You hate the midwest."
"You hate rural America."

Democrats cut it, Republicans will cry:

"You hate alternate fuels."
"You hate renewable fuels."


(Keep in mind, I'm saying Republicans, not Conservatives).

I don't put ethanol in any of my engines: vehicle, lawnmower, nothing.

Around 2008/2009 I was making regular drives between NOLA and Atlanta, and noticed that my mileage varied wildly between summer and winter months. The difference was the summer and winter blends that were being used at the time. When the 10% ethanol blends went in, my mileage dropped by 10%.

quote:

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I don't put ethanol in any of my engines: vehicle, lawnmower, nothing.

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Same here. Now that I'm retired and not driving 2,000 miles back and forth to work, I can afford the corn free stuff. Same for the wife's car. Hell, for my zero turn mower I'd make a 25 mile round trip just to go buy corn free gas for it. Have had it 10 years, never drained the tank during the winter and never missed a beat when time to start it.

add auto manufactures and big banks.

Nothing is too big to fail. Make bad decisions for your company and suffer the consequences.

The differences in public perception between the agriculture lobby vs the oil lobby have always amazed me. People seem to view the oil lobby as “crony capitalism”, “anti-environment”, and “the bad guys” while the agriculture lobby are just “farmers”. Don’t get me wrong, I would love to get all of the corporate money out of politics.. but the agriculture guys keep pulling off a PR miracle. Agribusiness spends about the same amount lobbying as oil and gas.

Big agriculture causes just as much environmental damage bit as big oil, if not more. Yet, big oil is much more highly regulated. As an example, agriculture is a larger source of pollution in our waterways than oil and gas, yet somehow they have managed to dodge enforcement of the Clean Water Act.

Agriculture receives more subsidies in the US than oil and gas.. the list goes on. And somehow they’ve convinced people that it’s a good idea to use corn for fuel when oil prices are low and we are at risk of worldwide food shortages...

At the end of the day, it’s not about the environment for either party. It’s about the fact that Iowa is a swing state and everyone loves farmers.