Kurt,
I agree it is way too simple to blame hunger on only one issue, corn for fuel,
however, it is impossible to argue that the use of ethanol for fuel did not
make food prices increase.
I agree very little corn is consumed directly by humans, but that ignores the
use of corn as feed stock and the use of corn derivatives like fructos or corn
flour that are used heavily. We obviously eat plenty of meat that was fattened
with corn. When corn prices increase meat prices must follow.
It is also impossible to say that corn planted for ethanol production did not
displace other crops. Just compare the acreage devoted to growing corn today
versus a decade ago. I am sure the increase is highly correlated to the use of
corn based fuels.
Bottom line there is no escaping the fact that food is more expensive because
of ethanol.
The cheapness of the dollar is also very straight forward, we buy more than we
sell. We have a HUGE trade gap with the middle east. This is one of the most
dangerous long term issue for the US. Every time we fill up our cars at the
pump we are sending $$ to countries that do not care if we exist at best or
wish to eliminate us at worst.
This is where it gets real complicated, because the more corn fuel we use the
less petro fuel is needed. In this regard corn fuel is a really good thing.
Overall I am not sure where I come out on this balance, except to say the only
win-win is reduction in usage through higher efficiency.
Steve
Sent from me.
-----Original Message-----
From: Kurt Appley <kmappley at gmail.com>
To: <spridgets at autox.team.net>
Subject: [Spridgets] Re A (sad) tale of ethanol!!!
Jim and others: It is wayyyy too simplistic to blame hungry people in
central america on ethanol!
First let me say that only a tiny fraction of yellow corn is used for human
consumption.
Secondly when alcohol is distilled from corn only the starch is taken out
and a large part of the corn becomes a high protein feed. Last I heard the
human food chain world wide was awash in starch.
Then you need to look at history.
30 years ago Mexico and other central american countries were self
sufficient in maize. Then we came up with GATT! Tens of thousands of small
farmers were put out of business while ADM, Cargill and our other grain
giants exported US corn to them that we were being payed to produce at below
our cost of production. The number of folks that swam the river correlates
closely with the number of dispossessed farmers from south of the border.
Now ADM is the largest taco producer in that region.
The main problem with costs is the world money games that have suddenly made
everything we produce look cheap to most of the world. The countries that
haven't bought into the "free market at any cost" game (china) seem to be
doing best.
Kurt.
_______________________________________________
Donate: http://www.team.net/donate.html
Suggested annual donation $12.75
Archive: http://www.team.net/archive
Forums: http://www.team.net/forums
Unsubscribe/Manage: http://autox.team.net/mailman/options/spridgets/an5.sprite
at gmail.com
|