Ethanol Was Proposed for Farm Relief, 1933
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 07. 8.08
Larger version at Modern Mechanix
There is nothing new under the sun, including corn for ethanol. Farm relief advocates apparently proposed it in the depression as a way of reducing the crop surplus and getting more money for farmers. ::Modern Mechanix
Thirsty for more? Check out these related articles:
- Quote of the Day from 1953: Why No Sun Power?
- Big Food’s War on Biofuels
- So Long 2008, and Thanks for All the Posts
- 1947: Scoot-Mobile Gets 75 MPG
Isn't 10 percent ethanol standard for gas nowadays? Looks like the farm advocates were successful, albeit probably a bit later.
I'm for it to deal with the surplus, but after reading the Omnivore's Dilemma, I think corn subsidiaries should be reformed so that we don't encourage a surplus in the first place. We'd all be a lot healthier for it, as it enables processed foods.
Well, corn ethanol is still doing what it was originally intended for: getting money to farmers. Not a bad goal, but there are plenty of better things we could be doing with "excess" crops, like food aid to starving people in other countries. We can send it there in ethanol-powered ships, if you like.