Spring Break
Dear Barack Obama...
Dwight Wozich
Issue date: 5/13/08 Section: Forum
To solve the current fuel crisis you claim that you will promote the creation of alternative fuel methods.
Specifically, you cite the use of celluloid ethanol, or fuel that is made from plant matter. You say you will institute a Production Tax Credit that benefits farmers who grow the materials to make bio-fuel. Why should land that grows food for hungry mouths be wasted on fuel production?
One of the reasons our country has been so successful is that a majority of our people don't go hungry.
We produce so much food that we have a surplus. This surplus of food is largely what is keeping the Third World from starving to death.
Of particular significance are our efforts with the North Korean government. The people of North Korea are starving because all of their economy is focused on military power. In exchange for a relaxed stance on their nuclear weapons program, we are sending their country millions of dollars in food assistance.
According to the U.S. State Department, the food we send is all that is keeping North Korea from mass starvation.
Last week a major cyclone tore through Myanmar. It killed thousands of people, and thousands more are homeless and going hungry. The military junta which rules Myanmar isn't equipped to help its people. According to CNN, there is already a fleet of U.S. ships off the coast of Myanmar that is carrying food relief and medical supplies. If people are starving, the U.S. is able to respond immediately.
In short, our food is all that is keeping much of the world from going into massive political unrest. Ethanol production will seriously limit our ability to remain as the world's safety valve.
In an article for the New York Times, Celia Dugger reports that food prices are sky-rocketing due to the demand for ethanol made from corn. As a result, this is dramatically affecting the amount of food the government is able to purchase for foreign aid.
In addition, the land that would normally be used to grow extra food is being transformed by farmers to grow the corn for ethanol. The combined result is that there is less and less of a food surplus to aid disadvantaged countries, and the government is slowly becoming unable to purchase what food we do have.
Specifically, you cite the use of celluloid ethanol, or fuel that is made from plant matter. You say you will institute a Production Tax Credit that benefits farmers who grow the materials to make bio-fuel. Why should land that grows food for hungry mouths be wasted on fuel production?
One of the reasons our country has been so successful is that a majority of our people don't go hungry.
We produce so much food that we have a surplus. This surplus of food is largely what is keeping the Third World from starving to death.
Of particular significance are our efforts with the North Korean government. The people of North Korea are starving because all of their economy is focused on military power. In exchange for a relaxed stance on their nuclear weapons program, we are sending their country millions of dollars in food assistance.
According to the U.S. State Department, the food we send is all that is keeping North Korea from mass starvation.
Last week a major cyclone tore through Myanmar. It killed thousands of people, and thousands more are homeless and going hungry. The military junta which rules Myanmar isn't equipped to help its people. According to CNN, there is already a fleet of U.S. ships off the coast of Myanmar that is carrying food relief and medical supplies. If people are starving, the U.S. is able to respond immediately.
In short, our food is all that is keeping much of the world from going into massive political unrest. Ethanol production will seriously limit our ability to remain as the world's safety valve.
In an article for the New York Times, Celia Dugger reports that food prices are sky-rocketing due to the demand for ethanol made from corn. As a result, this is dramatically affecting the amount of food the government is able to purchase for foreign aid.
In addition, the land that would normally be used to grow extra food is being transformed by farmers to grow the corn for ethanol. The combined result is that there is less and less of a food surplus to aid disadvantaged countries, and the government is slowly becoming unable to purchase what food we do have.
Note: writers will not reply to comments.
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 25
Alan Srout
posted 5/13/08 @ 1:28 AM PST
Operation Chaos: Why Rush Limbaugh Was Right
http://www.useless-knowledge.com/1234/08may/article003.html
Delphinia
posted 5/13/08 @ 10:28 AM PST
Dear Mr. Wozich,
Please write a column telling us how our current President, George W. Bush has brought this country to the stellar place it is today. (Continued…)
Daniel
posted 5/13/08 @ 12:36 PM PST
Mr. Wozich,
While your arguments against corn based ethanol are quite compelling, if anything they only strengthen that portion of Barack Obama's stance. (Continued…)
Brett Nunley
posted 5/13/08 @ 4:13 PM PST
George Bush isn't running for office, Delphinia.
Wozich tries to bring up some valid points, and the typical liberal response to is ask, "What about Bush?" If they think McCain=Bush, they need to stop reading moveon. (Continued…)
Mike
posted 5/13/08 @ 10:42 PM PST
Thank you for reminding us all, Mr. Nunley, that George Bush is not running for a third term. We can all use refreshing reminders now and then.
Perhaps now would be a good time to point out to both you and Mr. (Continued…)
Jason
posted 5/13/08 @ 11:42 PM PST
How is it that I, a liberal (whom Brett Nunley feels the need to collectively ciritcize in almost every piece of writing I have ever read from him, because just like McCain and Bush are exactly the same, all liberals are exactly the same), find myself agreeing more and more with what Mr. (Continued…)
Michael
posted 5/14/08 @ 9:51 AM PST
Really Mike? Could you have come up with a less original post? You are like the second grader who says 'no you are'. Why would it matter to Brett Nunley or Wozich that Bush supports the same kind of ethanol that Obama does? If anything it furthers Wozich's point: many more people in the world are starving now because of our ethanol projects than were in the past. (Continued…)
Linda
posted 5/14/08 @ 2:22 PM PST
Your statement: "Senator Obama, I know that you are just a politician, and you got to where you are by telling the people what they want to hear. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem that your Harvard education has taught you effective foreign policy. (Continued…)
Nica
posted 5/14/08 @ 4:15 PM PST
Here are some sites for all to read and be informed of the truth. Senator Obama is for ALL AMERICANS!!
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/2/20/201332/807/36/458633
http://www. (Continued…)
ObamaForAll
Nica
posted 5/14/08 @ 4:22 PM PST
Senator Obama is for ALL AMERICANS and welcomes our suggestions on any issue (go to his website: barackobama.com). Please read the sites below for information that reflects the truth!
http://www. (Continued…)
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