Redstate

which is exactly what I'm doing, I'd think the major components in the increase in food prices would be increased demand and increases in the cost of transportation (see high gas prices). I think sales of corn for ethanol and crop substitution ito biofuel crops in other countries play a part, just not to the extent of the rise in demand and increase in the price of oil. Of course when demand and supply are closely matched, even marginal changes in supply could have relatively large impacts on price.

Corn-based ethanol creates a large amount of CO2 as well as it is formed from corn. Ooops!

As farmers plant corn instead of soybeans and wheat, others have to clear forests to plant the grains that used to be planted. Also a big oops.

Restricting supply for food with same/increased demand means higher prices. Oops.

As Thomas Sowell says, you have to think beyond stage one!

-- A true evolutionist would let endangered species die off. Anyone care to change sides?
-- Saving baby whales and baby trees, but killing baby humans. Huh?
-- imwithfred --

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"Were we directed from Washington when to sow, and when to reap, we should soon want bread." -- Thomas Jefferson
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Let me see if I understand how "Congress", rather our Senate began this mudslide in 1994. Vice President Algore provided the critical +1 tie-breaking vote to allow the EPA to commence the soon to be known "starve the world" Act???

So when does this portion get linked to Bill Clinton and his precious legacy? Furthermore, seeing that Hillary is all about her "expertise" by association, if Barack H. Obama were even remotely trying to be a "man of the people", he'd hang this trophy around her neck moreso than any other Bill-era scandal. Yes, he'd pi** off the enviro-nutz to a point, however when it comes to "Big Farm", he would not get be seeking their general election votes anyway. A born winner.

For all of Sen. McCain's faults, he once railed against these ethanol subsidies and such but now seems all but silent on the matter. What gives there?

It's not like he came in 4th in Iowa or anything... wait, this just in, McCain did come in 4th in Iowa =)

I saw an estimate that 30% of the domestic corn supply is devoted to ethanol. This is a demand that wasn't even known about in 2005. Because of this demand, corn prices are up over 120% since 2002. And because of this dislocation of demand, supply of other food crops have been cut, reflected in the prices of soybeans, wheat, alfalfa, etc. This general demand has the opportunity to become disasterous to the economies of many food importing nations in addition to the US. While we can somewhat shield ourselves from the world market, the world cannot shield it's self from the US market.

We also have law on the books that we can't import from Brazil ethanol(or sugar) in order to protect the domestic sugar cartel.
I wish I could blame the Democrats, but all politicians feast at the trough of the sugar cartel.