A young man we will refer to as John has a business clearing and maintaining property. He also has a farm and about a hundred head of beef cattle. He operates a lot of equipment such as a Bobcat and various chainsaws and other similar equipment.

The imposition of ethanol into our fuel supply has affected him in two ways. It has indirectly caused an increase in the price of feed for his cattle, raising his costs and prices. The ethanol, which is basically a form of sugar, has also increased his equipment maintenance costs. The carburetors in his chainsaws and other equipment require much more maintenance and repair (and more frequent replacement) as a result of the fuel content.

When consumers encounter higher food prices, do they hold accountable the masters of the universe who inject into our market concerns for climate and the global oil market that appear to be more uncertain by the day? Does this even register to the chain saw owner who is noticing that he is spending more time and money maintaining his equipment that he used to?

The problem with regulation and centralized planning is the impossibility of understanding the reach of their policy, and therefore ever properly comprehending the ultimate cost.

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