Ethanol Fuels Fire Concerns

[Harv]

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (Map, News) - The nation's drive toward alternative fuels carries a danger many communities have been to slow to recognize: Ethanol fires are harder to put out than gasoline ones and require a special type of firefighting foam.

Many fire departments around the country don't have the foam, don't have enough of it, or are not well-trained in how to apply it, firefighting experts say. It is also more expensive than conventional foam.

http://www.examiner.com/a-1242921~Ethan ... cerns.html

[In Memory Walter K]

I love it! Think of all the gas stations across the country that have those auto fire safety systems over their pumps armed with the wrong stuff. Wonder if all the boat Halon(?) auto fire systems work as well on ethanol laced fuel. We're sitting in water. Ahhhh the rush to solutions without the proper homework. Just as bad as the FDA approved drugs that three years later either don't work or are now deemed bad for you! Walter

[In Memory Walter K]

The news today had interviews from several major economists and food manufacturers who ALL promised that the prices of ALL flour based products are skyrocketing and will continue to do so until something is done about our biofuel industries that are all fed by our subsidization of corn growing. All these costs are going to be passed on to the consumer. Ha! Again, you heard it here first three years ago! The problem is no one is going to discuss the subject until AFTER the election because everyone wants the votes of the corn-growing states. John McCain is the only candidate who has openly spoken up against those subsidies so you can look foward to him not getting their votes. Our rush to ethanol is the foundation on which our inflation is based! Walter

[Peter]

Our rush to ethanol is the foundation on which our inflation is based!

BUT inflation weakens the dollar because investors will move their investments to markets with more stable currencies where inflation doesn't eat up their profits.

And that weaker dollar leads to higher oil prices

High oil prices feeds infaltion further

That causes the average consumer to spend less on everything except energy because they only have so much to spend, and energy is not optional.

Which in turn causes the Fed to lower interest rates to try to bail out the stupid bankers who loaned money they didn't actually have

Those lower interest rates weaken the dollar further because the interest income on dollar denominated investments won't keep up with the ever increasing rate of inflation.

And the weaker dollar makes corn fuel even more expensive

....return to top of page and repeat process....

And so it goes 'round and 'round..... Got euro's, anyone??? How about English pounds or Swiss francs??

Welcome to the global economy.

Wall Streeter business moguls and the politicians they buy tell us we have to make our workers' wages globally competitive to survive. Current wages for the labor with whom they want us to compete have slipped a little lately. They used to earn a bowl of rice a day. Now because of increased global food prices (due to bio fuel incentives) they are down to 3/4 of a bowl of rice per day.

Peter