This will be a no win argument for years to come. Those who support ethanol and other bio fuels want to believe that it is such a great thing. They want to believe this so badly that they will rationalize it.

They will say that it's cheaper. It's not! Especially if you include the subsidies which our tax dollars pay for.

They will say that it reduces are dependancy on fossil fuels. It doesn't! Especially when you take into consideration the very small amount of ethanol that is used. Primarily in automobiles and no where else. As wll as the fossile fuels required to produce the ethanol and the lower efficiency level.

They will even say that it's better for the environment. Even though more and more is showing that that isn't exactly correct.

They also will have you believe that it's great for our economy and "The Farmer". It isn't! The majority of the farms that grow corn and produce ethanol are large corporations like Archer Daniels Midland. Plus, many more people have jobs related to the petroleum industry than can ever be compared to the ethanol industry. A lot more money goes to the average worker via patroleum.

The main point is that while petroleum isn't the greatest thing on the planet, we know what it can do for us and we know how to work with it's side affects. That can't be said for ethanol. Ethanol has been in use for approximately 30 years or more, yet they don't know any more about it now than they did when they first started using it. That's not even counting how alcohol based fuel was what was originally used when the automobile was invented, yet they saw the inefficiency of it and migrated towards petroleum based fuels. Then there's also all of the plastics, oils, and other byproducts that are produced via fossile fuels.

Nope, there is no winning this one. Neither side will budge for the common good of all people. I am all for finding an alternative energy source other than petroleum. Even if it's just a replacement for the transportation industry such as cars, trucks, trains, planes, etc... I just don't think that ethanol is the answer and that it is wasting a lot of valuable resources that could be targeted towards finding a real solution. IMO, ethanol is pushed solely for political reasons. Later... Mike....