Brazilian Fill-up

I actually enjoyed putting gas in my truck yesterday. Until now there was nowhere to get E-85 in West Frankfort but a new station has opened up and provides that opportunity. It felt good to think that I might be helping the environment or a farmer. Here’s what would feel even better. What if I could start a movement? What if began a campaign to end our dependency on foreign oil and possibly on oil in general? What if we kick started our economy with a new industry and new jobs? Could this movement become a reality?

Brazil has been doing this. They have a mandatory 20-25% ethanol blend rate and have traditionally exported way more ethanol that it imports. How refreshing this is? Government support of an industry that generates $48 billion annually, supports 1.2 millions jobs, and then makes financial commitments to boosting the ability of farmers to grow sugar-cane (this is what they make ethanol with). Brazil is the world’s second largest producer of ethanol behind the United States, yet we are not driven by ethanol. With all the corn our fertile land will give us, ethanol has always been an afterthought for us.

Instead we are only dreaming of an ethanol revolution due in part to a huge oil and gas lobby in our government. Leading the way is Exxon Mobil but the more interesting figure is that recent campaign spending from oil companies was significantly lower during the George Bush years. The oil friendly president carried out the plan making this domination of oil companies possible. Spending increased dramatically when Obama was elected, a more liberal president who might have his own ideas.

I think if we want to fulfill our dream of a Brazilian style fill up, we need to start voting with our dollars. That’s what oil companies do. Start buying E-85 and help drive this market. We could create our own revolution that will impact the quality of life for our kids and their kids. Maybe I’m a dreamer.
　
http://www.txchnologist.com/2012/sweet-gas-is-brazilian-sugar-cane-ethanol-ready-for-the-world

http://www.opensecrets.org/lobby/indusclient.php?id=E01

New Crusade?

Years ago I had a student dispute me during a sociology class. I don’t mind being challenged but she told me that Catholicism was not Christianity. I was a social studies teacher and I knew my history. I knew that the Catholic church was actually the first Christian institution. I explained this to her and she was horrified. She told me that her parents taught her differently and she was not backing off that belief. I let it go. It was not surprising to me that an adult would attempt to pass on their beliefs to their kids, but it is frustrating when they are just wrong. What does this family have to gain by manipulating history and misinforming their children? Here is another good question, what do people have to gain by shouting at the top of their lungs that homosexuality is immoral and gay marriage should be illegal?

I’ve thought about this on many levels. In politics, candidates make their beliefs known to earn your vote and sometimes take a policy stance on that issue. Religious institutions see this and latch on to a candidate. This works for both the candidate and the institution. When they can tell you what the problem is and then who is to blame for it, they are trying to win an election or keep loyal followers. It’s an advertising campaign, not a morality campaign.

On an individual level it is easy to attack homosexuals and consider them a morality issue. Lets face it, it is hard to find a Christian who has not violated the Ten Commandments in some shape or form so gay people are an easy target. I’ve heard some interesting commentary about how gays are a threat to a civilized world and perhaps God has begun the rapture. Now take a side, you’re either for gay marriage or against it. Supporting it means you stand against good Christian values and being against it means you are doing God’s will.

Its 2012 so lets get real. Campaigning against groups of people in the name of religion is an old concept that has proven to be devastating. Heresy was punished by death and the early Catholic church considered protestants heretics. Maybe this is why my student’s parents taught her what they did. How many lives did the Crusaders take in the name of the church? Did you know that evidence against women accused of being a witch included charges of unladylike behavior, like yelling at their husbands in public. Ok, maybe we need to start that movement again (just kidding). I think we are beyond this type of behavior. Here is a thought, do what you need to do to get into Heaven. We often worry about telling others what they need to do. This is simply a ploy to cover our own shortcomings. I do the best I can each day to live a good life and maybe that will get me into Heaven some day. One thing is for sure, I will never tell someone else how to get there. Ultimately it is their job to get there.

Launching new crusades against groups of people is wrong. When we can address ourselves first, we can create the life we want to lead.