The Ethanol Papers - Paperturn manuscript - Flipbook - Page 374
illustration is of ExxonMobil, not ADM. And we must remember that the ethanol
we use in America is produced here in America by Americans. No American
military man or woman has ever died defending domestic ethanol production
and distribution.
As for "food vs. fuel," Jay might as well claim that the Earth is flat. About 10
years ago, The World Bank issued a statement in which they claimed that increased corn-based ethanol production was causing food prices to rise. Since
that time, The World Bank has twice rescinded that earlier claim based on new
and better-studied information. The fuel-related culprit they acknowledge as
causing food prices to rise is gasoline, diesel, and other petroleum oil products
that are used in packaging.
I think that Jay was irresponsible for writing, or signing off, on this article. However, the bulk of the responsibility for letting this misinformation come to the
light of day belongs to AutoWeek magazine. Regardless of what Jay Leno had
to say, they should not have allowed it to be published, or at the least, they
should have published it with some considerable disclaimers. I guess that AutoWeek's decision was predicated upon the hope of increased advertising support from the oil industry, and that the reason they chose to embellish the headline title of Jay's story on the online version of the story with "Jay Leno hates
ethanol" was to make sure that they were kissing enough ass. I also presume
that Jay made the same decision to create the story based on the potential of
getting oil company sponsorship for his new automotive content ventures. If I'm
correct then there is little reason for this magazine article to have been written
and published.
• SEE ALSO: Can’t We Just Get Rid of Ethanol Ignorance? by Bobby Likis, a
true automotive expert.
