From the way it sounds Bush is really going to help the people of Brazil in a big way with this ethanol thing?

Question

Why doesn't he do the same thing for all of the people in this country?

25% of our Corn crop last year went for ethanol production which just means that feed for our Beef, pork animals, and chickens will be higher and the price of these items will sky rocket when they hit the grocery stores where you and I buy our groceries!

What kind of BS is this?

Has Bush lost his mind?

Answer 1

You are very astute. As Americans, we need to pay close attention to the ethanol industry, especially with Brazil. Brazil is a very difficult country to do business with. They have a lot rules and regulations that prohibit trade. They already have a large sugar crop which goes to ethanol production. We cannot compete with this.

We need to be very careful when we start using our food supply to power our motor vehicles. Who will suffer in this arrangement? It will not be the rich and powerful.

Answer 2

Bush is not gonna help Brazil... he needs Brazilian help, but since US corn lobbyists raises barriers to import ethanol overtaxing Brazilian ethanol, US people will be forced to pay higher prices for their food since corn (used to be food or breed) will be turned into fuel.

Brazil is #1 in ethanol, but even powering their cars and exporting is not even close to US ethanol needs.
Worldwide 2005 production:
36,4% Brazil
35.5% US
8.2% China
3.7% India
16.2% Other

IT IS A LOT CHEAPER AND POLUTES MUCH LESS.

I am Brazilian and I have a flex-fuel car, so I can choose from gasoline, ethanol or a mix:
Running on ethanol - 7 km/liter - price R$ 1,29/liter (US$ 2,27/gal)
Running on gasoline - 9 km/liter - price R$ 2,45/liter (US$ 4,31/gal)

REM: Don't focus on the gas price itself, becase US dollar exchange rate is sinking worlwide and the gas price in US is cheap comparing to any other country (i.e. european countries, Argentina, Mexico, etc)

So in my case is 120% more expensive to run on gasoline

Since US does not have enought technology to reach Brazilian's cost efficency to produce ethanol and overtax Brazilian imported ethanol, I guess this rational would not work today, but I bet it will work in a 10 years timeframe after US learn how to do it.

Answer 3

Because in Brazil - ethanol is made from sugar-cane. This is a much more cost-effective ethanol source than corn.

Buying ethanol from Brazil and selling them our corn benefits both our nations.

Answer 4

The poor President, regardless of who he is, is damned if he does and damned if he doesn't! People gripe about the immigration from Latin American countries like Brazil because the economy there is so bad. He does something to stimulate their economy, at no cost to the US and everyone is on his case. If ethanol will help lower fuel costs and reduce the immigration problem I am all for it.

Answer 5

you are a suspicious lot , aren't you? First it is the oil and now it is the Ethanol, whatever the President does is up for criticism., Consider that he is working for the benefit of our Country and and its citizens. This Ethanol cartel, would certainly benefit the US and the Countries that join, and would be in competition with the Oil industry.

Answer 6

Maybe we can get the Brazilians to destroy more Amazon Rain forest and plant more sugar cane so we can run our cars on ethanol. Just trading one global problem for another.

Answer 7

Bush is helping everywhere for Oil, In Iraq, Iran and Brazil too, only the way is different to get his job done, ensuring fuel supplies.

Answer 8

if we are going to push production of ethanol then somebody needs to inform the guys a BIG OIL! lol

Answer 9

that is free enterprice for you.