E85 Boondoggle of the Day: 59% of U.S. Voters Favor Ethanol. Allegedly.

Robert Farago
by Robert Farago

Survey takers Greenberg, Quinlan, Rosner Research recently quizzed 800 registered voters about corn juice. They discovered the majority either favored or strongly favored "continuing to increase the use of ethanol, a renewable source of energy, in our nation's fuel supply." Hold on there, what's with the little caveat about "a renewable source of energy?" What would the results have been if they'd left that little gem out? Did the fact the The Renewable Fuels Association paid for this research have anything to do with the wording? Of course not. Anyway, "By a 71 to 17 percent margin, voters believe the rising cost of oil and gas is the primary reason food prices have been going up, rather than blaming the rising use of corn-based ethanol." Key word: "primary." The question asks what respondent blame "the most" for rising food prices. Eight percent blamed ethanol above increased demand in China and India and severe weather. And here's the kicker: 21 percent of those surveyed said they were less likely to support a candidate for president who supports ethanol, "a renewable source of energy." Go figure.

Robert Farago
Robert Farago

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  • Eric_Stepans Eric_Stepans on Jul 22, 2008

    For what it's worth... The author of The Really Inconvenient Truths: Seven Environmental Catastrophes Liberals Don't Want You to Know About--Because They Helped Cause Them http://www.amazon.com/Really-Inconvenient-Truths-Environmental-About-Because/dp/1596980540/ estimates that about 1/3 of the recent run up in food prices is due to diversion of food crops to biofuels. Maybe we should first close the "Enron loophole" in petroleum futures speculation and see what happens before we 'throw out the baby with the bath water'.

  • Capeplates Capeplates on Jul 23, 2008

    A data base of 800 from a population of 301.139,947 - that represents 0.0000002% of the population. Typical manipulation by the powers that be to produce statistics to suit their own purpose!

  • Kurt. Kurt. on Jul 23, 2008

    Ethanol: Just like LP, another way for the gov't to tax you and the big oil companies to stay on top, unless...Segrams and InBev get in the fuel business. Remember, it is still AGAINST THE LAW for you, a free American, to produce your own fuel (alcohol) even though it is easy enough for you to do...because you might get drunk, not pay taxes, drive an obnoxious Orange Dodge Charger with musical horns and marry your sister in short shorts...

  • Areitu Areitu on Jul 23, 2008

    On my local NPR station, KCRW, I was listening to a news bit about how ethanol refineries have essentially no margins now, compared to when a refinery could pay itself off in short order. Apparently, the soaring cost of corn wasn't taken into account. One refinery owner said, "We're just one day of bad ethanol pricing from shutting down." I indulged myself in a delicious bit of Schadenfreude, knowing the market, at least in this short term, feels the same way I do about ethanol.

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