Corn makes Ethanol, Ethanol makes Fuel. Should we use it or should we not????????????

I use the E-85 because it saves me money.
I take a 6-7mpg cut in economy but I still come out ahead.
1994 Ford Aspire, regular gas 42mpg...8-9 cents per mile to run based on $3.539. E-85, 33mpg 7-7.5 cents per mile to run at $2.619.
If it honestly saves you money and you are not financially secure...why not use it?

Oil comes out the ground. Oil makes fuel. Should we use it or not?

last i checked we are using it, and running out of the stuff

ethanol is reproducible, oil is not.



This post has been edited by jman88: May 8 2008, 07:41 PM

I think Master Vic's point (one I've heard on CNN) is that ethanol may be driving up food prices and leading to food shortages. However, I've also heard that this is just hysteria. Food prices are going up because of fuel shortages, in which case more fuel (ethanol) might bring the price down. Also, I think the problem is not food availability but distribution. Many people have pointed out that farmers are producing more and more 'ethanol' crops as opposed to 'food' crops, but I also remember 20 years ago, when farmers were going out of business. Does ethanol support farmers? Probably.

Personally, I don't believe that ethanol is contributing to the food crisis.

The third world goes hungry so we can drive to work.

That is over dramatic and not very truthful.

i beg to differ,not every country can afford to be rich,those that are poor stay that way,or advance slowly.The western world suddenly becomes enviromentally aware as countries such as india,china start using more fossil fuels,and imposes new enviromental condtions that only rich countries can meet.So the poorer countries produce ethanol as the the cost of oil rises.America and Europe are aware and concerned at the rapid growth of the asian market,they have to increase the price of fuel to try and limit the damage.Causing instability in the middle east helps increase the cost of fuel.if every man on the planet had ten million pounds,how much would a packet of crisps(potato chips) cost?

So yes,we live in relative comfort at the exspense of poorer nations.

The problems in third world countries is primarily their government. Not our driving to work.

wrong again,third world countries are created by a capitalist infrastructure,which was created off the back of slavery.How great our civilisation,what wonders we have achieved.Do we only intervene when there is oil or strategic importance,or through our sense of humanity.How many people have died because of poverty....?This crisis is to suspend or slow the growth of pooorer countries.

In this world one man can be rich,while thousands struggle to just survive each day.

Which goes back to government and their leadership.
There is a rich side to Ethiopia too, as in many of those countries. These governments and the rich within could do much to helping the lesser fortunate of their fellow countrymen...but do they? Same for this country here the USA. We have homeless and hungry here too. When was the last time you heard the rich reach out and help the homeless? No, they give to charities many that have rich presidents that suck up much of the donations with their high salaries.
The problems with many of these countries could be greatly improved if the people whithin them, that have the power and money cared enough.

Taking farm land away just to grow corn for ethanol, wouldn't that create a food shortage and in return help raise the cost for food? Seems like we would be shooting ourselves in foot twice, since ethanol has been proven to be very corrosive to the gas combustion engine.

Building more coal plants and turning coal into a liquid fuel is by far a better solution, I read somewhere the state of Montanna is already doing that and it's way cheaper.

that is only part of the problem,most of those in power have been put in place by the west,those undesirable are removed(ie Saddam,sadat,kennedy etc.)some are placed in power, musharaf of pakistan,sarkozy,gordon brown,mugabe.you have to keep the poor so you can have the rich.The world is corrupt in the circle of power.the many,keeeping the few in their ivory towers.america and the west only act on these rogue nations when there is a financial incentive.America failed to act quickly enough in New Orleans..why?cos the poorest areas were the worst affected,how much has been rebuilt?how many have returned.there would be no rich,without the poor.