Sedgwick, KS — Ted Roth did an excellent job of exposing the ethanol scam. Drilling in ANWR, off the costs, and in our interior makes far better sense than paying an exorbitant price for foreign oil.

As Roth also mentioned, and perhaps of greater concern, is the Third World food shortage, which is getting worse. The price of corn is soaring. It is beyond the reach of many, since 80 percent of their costs are for food, and with very little money, even a small price rise is a disaster. But with its subsidies, ethanol can pay more for corn than people can.

A recent article in "Time"; magazine noted that Amazon forests are being cut down so the land can grow corn. Obviously, this destroys the forests the greenies love so well. Burning those trees puts huge amounts of carbon dioxide into the air. And, the trees are no longer there to absorb future atmospheric carbon dioxide. The whole purpose for the ethanol movement is negated by this action. A huge price, and a negative result. The right people are getting the money. The rest of us lose.

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The more basic scam is global warming. Around 1000 AD, Vikings were farming Greenland, and there were vineyards in England. In the 13th and 14th centuries, there were climatic extremes. The little ice age occurred. From then to the 19th century, temperatures dropped. Glaciers advanced. Winters were severe. England's vineyards vanished. The Viking community in Greenland perished. At that time, there was a cooling cycle. We have now swung back to a warming cycle.
Over the years, temperatures vary due to natural phenomena. Sun spots are cyclical. They, volcanic activity and other actions of nature contribute far more to climate change than do the puny efforts of men.

Sixty years ago, the scam was the fear of another ice age. Now the fear is global warming. When this issue dies, and the natural cooling cycle resumes, the fear of another ice age will again be profitable. Designer igloos, anyone?

– C.G. Johnson,
Sedgwick