US Senate Votes For Repeal of Ethanol Subsidies 395
T Murphy writes "Although the measure is not expected to become law, a Senate vote 73-27 in favor of repealing ethanol subsidies and tariffs means a lot for future legislation. The White House stands opposed to changes in the subsidies or tariffs, so they will likely go untouched before they expire at the end of the year. Even so, this is a strong indication that such government support for ethanol will be reduced if not eliminated. The response to the Senate vote has been mixed, from corn prices falling, to the World Bank encouraging lower food prices, to concerns over reduced funding for alternative energy, to supporters of such budget cuts."
Good! Let's concentrate on feeding people (Score:3, Insightful)
If the US used every acre of cropland for biofuel feedstock production it would only be able to produce 40% of transportation fuel needs and then there'd be nothing to eat! It's impossible to make even a dent in fossil fuel usage with biofuels, and by trying we will make food more expensive for everyone and reduce the surplus that helps to feed the world's poor.
Re:Physics: an alternative political spectrum (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Very interesting I'm sure (Score:4, Insightful)
It's about ethanol and biofuel. I think that many of us have different ideas about biofuel (e.g. I don't like it, it reduces food fields) that might be discussed.
And there's the problem of funding biofuel, that may not be fair comparing it to other alternative technologies, like hybrid or pure electric cars.
Re:Physics: an alternative political spectrum (Score:5, Insightful)
Subsidies spur production and research, as well as making a product more competitive internationally. They can keep a threatened industry that is desirable to keep around (say, one that is expected to be useful later but which might die in the meantime and be hard to start back up, or one that needs a push to get off the ground but will provide lots of jobs and tax money once it's going, or one critical to defense, even in an indirect sense) from being lost to foreign competition or simple changing demand. They can also be used to keep staples in the reach of the poor (though that happens more often in other countries, I think). Those are just the uses/justifications I can think of off the top of my head at 7:30 in the morning local time.
They're not as nonsensical as you imply, though I happen not to support this particular one myself.
Re:Physics: an alternative political spectrum (Score:4, Insightful)
Technically, you're both right. They are supposed to be used for the reasons you state, but many end up being used as he states.
Re:Good -- Ethanol's a Joke Anyway (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Physics: an alternative political spectrum (Score:5, Insightful)
It's simple. Gasoline lobby + food manufacturers' lobby > corn lobby. This bill also drops tariffs on imported sugar cane based ethanol, which will make the raw materials for 10% ethanol/gas mixtures cheaper. Meanwhile, prices on good ol' corn syrup will drop, since it's not being made into ethanol anymore.
ADM loses, Chevron and Coca-Cola win.
Remember Congress has a way (Score:4, Insightful)
The White House stands opposed to changes in the subsidies or tariffs, so they will likely go untouched before they expire at the end of the year.
That 73-27 vote is way more than the 2/3 required to override a presidential veto. Even if Obama doesn't want to do this, Congress could force it on him.
Re:Do you think they know what a thermodynamic is? (Score:1, Insightful)
yes, and if we say we live in a democracy, we get the pikers who have to insist it's a constitutional republic
and if we say something was hacked, we get the pikers who no, the system was cracked, or socially engineered
yes, pikers, we KNOW THAT ALREADY
hey pikers: the general meaning of a word often strays from narrow definitions. don't think you are in a position to correct that. understand you are in a position to learn, for once in your life, what common usage means
Re:Uneducated debate, as usual. (Score:5, Insightful)
Also, if we get rid of corn subsidies and sugar cane tariffs, then the USA will no longer be crippled by substandard Coca-Cola.
Re:Do you think they know what a thermodynamic is? (Score:5, Insightful)
Big government is when the government helps someone else. Small government is when they only help you.
Re:Do you think they know what a thermodynamic is? (Score:5, Insightful)
A negotiated plan where increases in the Department of Defense were offset by cuts elsewhere in government, and a failure of congress to deliver on those cuts.
Yet, Reagan still tried to increase the size of government, just in the area where they make things go BOOM, which is OK with Republicans.
But God help them if anyone else tries to increase the size of government that, you know, actually tries to help people, or keep business in check.