re: #10 Thanos

I wrote about this a couple of years back, but the world bank and UN have both confirmed that corn ethanol is impacting grain and other starch staple pricing. The wingnuts are ambivalent on this one because ADM and the other people pushing corn ethanol in the US are all big red state political lobbyists.

This might come as a shock but not every issue is a left vs right argument. The fight over ethanol subsidies crosses party lines. (The Ryan plan in the house calls for the subsidy to expire.) The battle is between farm states and non:

PRO:
Ethanol credit/tariff elimination amendment offered
westernfarmpress.com

Senators Coburn, R-Okla., and Feinstein, D-Calif., have filed an amendment that would eliminate the 45 cents/gallon blender’s tax credit and the 54 cents/gallon tariff on imported ethanol. Sen. Coburn said the credit costs $5 billion a year.
…..
Sens. Cardin, D-Md., Webb, D-Va., Burr, R-N.C., Collins, R-Maine, and Risch, R-Idaho, are co-sponsors.

In March, Sen. Coburn made an effort to introduce the legislation but was blocked by Senators who support the ethanol tax credits, protective tariffs and the consumption mandate. Majority Leader Reid, D-Nev., reportedly then agreed to allow a vote on the proposal at a later date but with the condition that it will require a two-thirds majority for adoption.

CON:
Corn Belt Senators Defend Ethanol Subsidies
green.blogs.nytimes.com

A bill introduced in April by Charles Grassley, Republican of Iowa, and Kent Conrad, Democrat of North Dakota, would extend the measures until 2015.
…..
The letter was signed by 16 senators, including Al Franken, Democrat of Minnesota, and John Thune, Republican of South Dakota.