Agricultural Fascism- Record Production

In recent weeks, numerous government reports have told of record ethanol production, as touted by Farms and Dairy, mnbiofuels.org, and others. Another big win for biofuels and clean, alternative energy, right? Let's take a look at the bigger picture.

Due to huge government subsidies, it is estimated that up to 40% of corn grown in the U.S. is processed into ethanol. Without this corporate welfare, I don't believe it would be a sound practice and definitely wouldn't exist if we were in a free market system. The net energy balance for corn derived ethanol is, well, poor. Sifting through government reports is a confusing task filled with oxymorons and contradictions. Generous reports estimate that it takes
3 gallons of gasoline to make 4 gallons of ethanol. Others show it takes 35%-70%more energy to produce ethanol than what it potentially provides. Again, not an apples to apples as gasoline and other biofuels are superior to ethanol in available energy per gallon, as well as easier (and cleaner) on the cumbusting equipment they are used in. Compound this with the immense environmental impacts:
Corn is a very fertilizer intensive and soil depleting crop. Lots of chemical fertilizer (made by the petroleum industry)and incredible amounts of water are consumed during cultivation. Not to mention the liberal amounts of pesticide and herbicide which end up draining out into our already flouridated water supply and doing immediate and long term damage to the ecosystem and in turn, US!

Bottom line is that as long as fascist governments (joined up with giant agribusiness) are paying big stimulus subsidies to prop up the ethanol market, we will continue to see the increase in corn ethanol production. Rest assured, ethanol will be there to gum up combustion engines and provide a plethora of other negative environmental impact for years to come