To the Editor:
Once again another government program is starting to crumble. In the Feb. 20/27 editions of The Land, a letter writer was angry at the University of Minnesota because of their criticism of ethanol and its production procedures. (“Letter: ‘Inferior’ U of M report misstates ethanol’s value,” online at www.thelandonline.com/l_letter/local_story_060101411.html)
He and a lot of other ethanol supporters got suckered. You must remember the goal of every elected politician is to get re-elected. The favorite way they can ensure this is going to happen is to keep you dependent on them.
A long time ago when you were little, your mother nursed you until you grew up and were able to take care of yourself. Well look at you — all grown up and still nursing. Only this time it’s not your mother you are nursing on, it’s your government.
When your mother didn’t pay close enough attention to you, like your diaper was full or you were hungry, you started to fuss, even cried. Well look at the writer now; it seems he is fussing and crying again.
The ethanol industry survives only on government subsidy. Who is the government? Your friends and neighbors. Next time you are in church or at a child’s basketball game look beside you, in front of you, or in back of you. These people are the government. These people are paying your subsidy.
If you would ask these people for their advice on ethanol they would say, sure you can produce ethanol but first figure out how to produce it at a profit. That’s the American way.
It seems your bottle of milk is getting a little cold. Stop whining. Why not work together with the University of Minnesota and figure out how to produce ethanol at a profit. In case you forgot, that’s what a land grant university’s job is.
Our forefathers knew how to cook corn and made alcohol at a profit. They called it moonshine. Our government got all mad about that. They couldn’t collect tax on it.
When ethanol was first proposed we had lots of meetings to organize. Every meeting was the same. The government will pay us $0.50 for every gallon we produce and in a little while we will get our money back.
Well they were right. We are there. The government breast is dry. So the government borrows money to keep all its programs going. The result is all the programs that we have to fund are dragging all of us down.
Stop whining and figure out how to produce ethanol at a profit. Start figuring out how to get more miles per gallon from ethanol. Stop relying on your friends and neighbors for help. John Deere figured it out, Henry Ford figured it out.
Your friends and neighbors are tired of baby-sitting ethanol. You are having a conscience problem. Nobody likes to admit to a mistake. I think someone once said “Ask not what your country can do for you, but rather ask what you can do for your country.”
Paul Hoffman
New Ulm
