Originally Posted by
Six jours
It isn't a case of "higher oil prices encouraging farmers to plant corn for ethanol", it's a case of government subsidies encouraging farmers to plant corn for ethanol. And the truly "amazing" part is that it's also government subsidies encouraging farmers not to plant anything. So the farmers are obviously going to take whichever subsidy is largest.
The obvious answer is to get the government out of the subsidy business, but that's obviously not going to happen. So I hope all you big-government "progressives" are enjoying the fruits of your labor. 
A good analysis except for one thing. Farm subsidies are more of a pocketbook issue rather than an ideological issue. Progressives are usually
not in favor of commodity subsidization. It's usually politicians from farm states who enact these subsidies. They tend to be conservative Republicans, although there are exceptions, such as a certain Senator from Illinois.