We keep coming up with solutions to solve our dependence on gasoline. There are abundant alternative fuels including extracting Hydrogen from the air. Daaaah! Hydrogen is everywhere. Coal could supply gasoline for the United States for several hundred years. Our "genius" has been released and we will now take our food supply and make fuel out of it. I guess it is better to trundle on down the road in our huge Hummers than to eat.
What a "corny" solution. We are now building lots of "corn to ethenol" conversion plants in the midwest. Not only does it take energy to convert corn, it will increase the total cost of a gallon of gas. I've heard estimates that the "corn plants" might produce up to 2% of our annual needs. What a brilliant move. That means 98% of our fuel must still come from other sources. That will relieve all our problems.
Politicians are jumping on the bandwagon. Former Govenor Tommy Thompson is a big investor in a corn plant here in the Midwest. Guess who will make a fortune over our panic to use corn resources. Wisconsin is trying to mandate the percentage of ethanol that gets put into each gallon of gas.
So what else happens. Yes, farmers plant more corn each year because demand will be increasing. Corn "future" prices are already double and triple historical norms. That means when you go to the store to buy anything that contains corn, it will cost more. You Dorito eaters will take it on the chin. Here we go! When I was younger, you could pick up a dozen ears of corn in July for 50 cents. Now they go for $4-$6 per dozen. Brace yourself for $10 per dozen. Higher food prices will push up your cost of living and it will affect everything else. Higher loan costs. Less take home pay. You get the idea.
I don't know how many people in the world go to bed hungry each night buy I'm told it is the millions. How many people starve to death each day? But hey, screw the world. My SUV needs gas.
There has to be a better solution than corn. Didn't the professor in "Back to the Future" convert fertilizer from cows into fuel for his time traveling car?
I do believe we will find good solutions. It just strikes me that taking food you eat and converting to gas for cars and trucks is not heading in the right direction.
As long as I've complaining about solutions to world problems, Sheryl Crows solution of limiting each bowel movement to one square sheet of toilet paper (to save trees) is just as stupid. As Rosie O'Donnell said, "has Sheryl seen the size of my ass"? Rosie, the world has seen the size of your ass.
My theme has been steady today. We are coming up with Sh--ty solutions to our energy problems as well as global warming (if there really is global warming).
So go forth Grasshoppers and help solve the problems of the world. Stay informed. Encourage good solutions. Avoid the "corn".
Love,
Dad