The great corn gold rush

CNN Money.com ^ | March 30 2007 | Jon Birger

[P-40]

So it's a non-traditional subsidy.

If it makes you feel good, call it that. But at least try to understand, at least in a small way, what differs under this President before you run around throwing the word subsidy around.

[Toddsterpatriot]

t at least try to understand, at least in a small way, what differs under this President before you run around throwing the word subsidy around.

subsidy: a grant by a government to a private person or company to assist an enterprise deemed advantageous to the public

Whether that means cash payment or reduced tax liability, the ethanol subsidy is a subsidy.

If a local government, to attract a factory, gives a 10 year property tax holiday, while no money is changing hands, no one could seriously deny that it was a subsidy.

[P-40]

Already answered.

[Toddsterpatriot]

If it makes you feel good, call it that.

If it makes you feel bad, keep avoiding it. LOL!

[P-40]

If you want to fail to see the difference, go for it.

[Toddsterpatriot]

What’s the difference between the government paying a company $9,000,000 for blending ethanol or reducing their taxes by $9,000,000 for blending ethanol.

[P-40]

Is that a serious question?

[Toddsterpatriot]

Why don't I answer it for you?

They're both $9,000,000 subsidies for ethanol blending.

[P-40]

If that is what you want to believe, go for it.

[Toddsterpatriot]

subsidy: a grant by a government to a private person or company to assist an enterprise deemed advantageous to the public

Both assist an enterprise deemed advantageous to the public.

[P-40]

Already answered.

[Toddsterpatriot]

Why the avoidance? The current set up may be a slightly less bad subsidy, but it’s still a subsidy. So why the tap dancing?

[P-40]

I’m avoiding nothing. There is just no point in repeating what I have already said.

[The Great RJ]

$4 corn has other consequences...have you priced beef at your local supermarket lately? Next thing to go up in price will be bourbon whiskey.

What will happen to all these ethanol plants when there is an inevitable drought in the corn belt? Corn based ethanol fuels will be seen in history as the greatest boondoggle since carbon offset credits and the selling of religious indulgences.

[hadaclueonce]

“How about we come to our senses and not do ethanol?”

Farm Lobby.

[Toddsterpatriot]

I’m avoiding nothing.

Just that a tax credit is a subsidy.

There is just no point in repeating what I have already said.

I'm just glad our current policy of only subsidizing profitable companies is so much better than the old policy of also subsidizing unprofitable companies.

[P-40]

Like I said, already answered.

As to the rest, you are welcome to be one of the crowd that ensures that nothing happens so they can complain about nothing happening. Pareto was right.

[Toddsterpatriot]

Like I said, already answered.

I know, the subsidy isn't a subsidy because it only reduces their taxes.

As to the rest, you are welcome to be one of the crowd that ensures that nothing happens so they can complain about nothing happening.

There is no chance that nothing will happen, thanks to politicians sucking up to the corn farmers of Iowa every 4 years.

[P-40]

Another old straw man makes the rounds...

[Toddsterpatriot]

That politicians suck up to Iowa corn farmers? LOL!