Corny Argument
23 March 2006
Editor, The Wall Street Journal
200 Liberty Street
New York, NY 10281
Dear Editor:
National Wheat Grower's Association's V-P John Thaemert predictably makes excuses for government subsidies to farmers (Letters, March 23). Equally predictably, all of his claims are phony - well, almost all. He's correct that agriculture increasingly provides "energy for our citizens." The Energy Policy Act of 2005, along with many state regulations, effectively requires refiners to mix ethanol into their gasoline. Because ethanol and its handling are quite expensive, these government policies raise prices at the pump.
Gee thanks, farmers.
Sincerely,
Donald J. Boudreaux
Chairman, Department of Economics
George Mason University
Editor, The Wall Street Journal
200 Liberty Street
New York, NY 10281
Dear Editor:
National Wheat Grower's Association's V-P John Thaemert predictably makes excuses for government subsidies to farmers (Letters, March 23). Equally predictably, all of his claims are phony - well, almost all. He's correct that agriculture increasingly provides "energy for our citizens." The Energy Policy Act of 2005, along with many state regulations, effectively requires refiners to mix ethanol into their gasoline. Because ethanol and its handling are quite expensive, these government policies raise prices at the pump.
Gee thanks, farmers.
Sincerely,
Donald J. Boudreaux
Chairman, Department of Economics
George Mason University
Posted by Don Boudreaux on
Tuesday December 5, 2006 at 6:31pm