I've always had a bit of a problem with the ethanol solution. Sure, it may reduce oil dependence, but by using corn for energy, it turns an already huge crop into an even more demanded resource, driving up prices. Corn is used in so many food products (look at high-fructose corn syrup), which drives up food prices now that more corn is diverted to energy purposes, and other such stuff.
 

Erin! It's Qi! FRIEND ME ON BLOGSPOT! :D

BTW, just making sure, you're against the amendment, right?
 

There is no "for" or "against," Qi. It's in the bill, and the bill passed in the House. I am quite certain there will be no "backsliding" in the Senate, because ag interests are way stronger in that chamber. There's some good stuff in the amendment - lots of incentives to take up organic farming practices, for example - but the moratorium is . . . questionable. Along with some other stuff. But like I said, it's kind of a moot point. So long as the bill doesn't get completely washed out of any merit in the Senate, I'll be behind it. It's a start.

And Greg: oh boy. Yeah, I've been very deeply preoccupied with such things for at least a year and a half now, and suspicious of ethanol for a longer time than that. I've done a fair bit of research on it at this point, and . . . well, the whole damned food/fuel system is fucked up.

There is not so much high-fructose corn syrup in foods outside our country, because other countries don't pay farmers so much to grow corn. One of my coworkers from Australia has remarked that everything in the States tastes sweet. We're very used to having a lot of cheap, unhealthy food around because of Farm Bill subsidies, which are outdated, an economic abomination, a medical disaster, an environmental travesty, and very, very securely in place thanks to farm and food manufacturing lobbies.

It's a tough life. Pray for a soda tax. o.O