The Biggest Loser in Iowa

Genevieve Wood / February 02, 2016

One of the biggest losers in Iowa this week wasn’t officially on the presidential ballot. I’m talking about ethanol subsidies.

Political wisdom has always said candidates must support government handouts to Iowa’s corn farmers in order to win elections in the state. The results of the Iowa caucus proved such “wisdom” wrong.

Here’s the deal with the ethanol mandate:

It hurts the poor because it makes the price of food higher.

It is not as climate-friendly as proponents suggest, as there are real adverse environmental consequences that come from the use of more fertilizers and pesticides.

And because so much land must be dedicated to the production of corn, it hurts the larger agricultural community growing other staples like wheat and rice, or buying feed for cattle.

At the end of the day, whether it’s what energy sources Americans use, which banks are too big to fail, or what school a child goes to, the government should get out of the business of picking winners and losers.

The ethanol mandate had little influence in how the people of Iowa voted. That is an example of conservative policy and principles defeating the political establishment and special interests.

And that is a victory for the American people.