Corn Pop Mandates More . . . Corn

Via Eric Peters Autos

Here’s a great way to reduce the artificially induced doubling of the price of a gallon of gas: Reduce how far a gallon of gas will propel your car.

That’s what Corn Pop just did by issuing a diktat – these are styled “executive orders” to make them seem less diktaty – that “gas” will henceforth be 85 percent gas rather than 90 percent. Another 5 percent of the stuff you pump will be ethanol – alcohol derived from corn.

Supposedly, this will reduce the cost of a gallon since ethanol is “renewable” and made right here, in the USSA. Actually, it will reduce the fuel efficiency of every car that burns it because alcohol contains substantially less energy (BTUs) than gasoline. So you’ll pay a bit less – maybe – but you’ll go less far.

And so, pay more often.

Isn’t it grand?

Corn Pop pays off the corn lobby – the agribusiness cartels that control the corn in this country – and Americans get to pay more, again.

They will also pay more in other ways.

For food, for instance. Corn diverted to make fuel means less corn for feed – for cattle. And chickens and pigs and every other iteration of livestock that eats corn. You’ll pay more to get to and from the store and while at the store, you’ll pay more for what’s in the store.

That’s what Corn Pop has in store for you.

If you own an older car, there is something worse in store for you. Unless your car was designed to handle “gas” that is 15 percent alcohol, it will not do well on Corn Pop. Alcohol is caustic to rubber and plastic parts not made to handle it – and many cars made before the early 2000s were not made to handle it. Some specifically warn about using E15 or higher, with injunctions that doing so may void warranty coverage – which of course is no longer applicable for most of these cars. That means the owner will be left holding the bag for any damages to his vehicle caused by Corn Pop.

Same goes for outdoor and recreational power equipment, which in many cases also came with (and still comes with) warning labels to not use E15 or higher.

Which brings us to what this Great Cornholio’ing may in fact be all about. Could it be possible that Corn Pop – or those who change his diapers – are using the public upset over their doubling of gas prices as the “crisis” to diktat a measure which will accelerate the retirement of the older cars that present an impediment to the cattle-prodding of the populace into electric cars?

There has been a great deal of talk among the hoi polloi about evading “electrification” – and the tandem Big-Brothering of new cars, generally – by hanging on to older cars made before cars got Big Brothery. Cars that did not come with “advanced driver assistance technology – i.e., driver pre-emption “technology” – and which were not “connected” to anything except whoever had their hand on the wheel.

Cars that were – that are – readily repairable by almost anyone who can read a manual and has the gumption to turn a wrench – very much the opposite of recent-vintage cars, which are so forbiddingly electronicized one needs a degree in electrical engineering as well as thousands of dollars’ worth of proprietary diagnostic technology only a dealer can afford (and has access to) in order to perform even basic service.

In other words cars that serve to liberate rather than enserf their owners – who actually do own them, as the cars are generally paid-for. What is wanted, of course, is more paying. Serially. Forever. Ge thee on the monthly revolving debt-service plan. Never own anything – and be happy.

As for outdoor power equipment, the implications there are interesting as well. It is known – because they have let it be known – that hoi polloi ought not live in the country; ought not to have land, especially. It is harder to own land when you cannot mow the grass – because your mower (or tractor) has been ruined by “gas” adulterated with alcohol. There may of course be E15-compatible replacement equipment available – for now. But it will cost you more than perhaps you can afford. So as to make it harder and harder – eventually/ideally – impossible for you to live where they don’t want you to.

By the way – and also of interest  – ethanol burned en masse in cars is known (or at least, it is said) to be a health hazard, according to both the EPA and CDC. It causes or contributes to coughing and inflamed/damaged airways in people’s lungs, worsens existing respiratory conditions such as asthma and bronchitis as well as increases general susceptibility to infections.

What happened to all that overweaning “concern” about “public health”? Only when it suits.

And now, it doesn’t.