https://www.lewrockwell.com/lrc-blog/national-socialist-automobile-fuel/

Trump is raising ethanol in car fuel to 15% from 10%.

What system centralizes the power to control products in the government? A system of national socialism.

It’s U.S. national socialist policy to adulterate gasoline, which is refined petroleum, with alcohol made from corn. The alcohol is ethanol (C2H5OH).

Cars aren’t optimally or efficiently built for alcohol as a fuel, even at a 10% concentration, or else ethanol wouldn’t have to be mandated and forced upon consumers. I expect 15% will prove much more costly, because it’s a 50% increase in the amount of ethanol. (Going from 10 to 15 is a 50% jump.)

For all sorts of engines, small and large, old and new, if you are lucky, you can find a gas station near you that sells gasoline, the 100% pure petroleum distillate. Check at this website.

Gasoline (pure) costs more than adulterated fuel. If you find a pure gas pump, expect to pay more. I paid $3.50 for premium pure two weeks ago. The premium gasohol is about 25 cents less. Prices vary considerably, however, even in one area.

Rothbard suggested that air pollution is a form of aggression in which air pollutants invade our bodies. As such, a class action lawsuit against manufacturers is appropriate. They then have an ongoing incentive to reduce emissions of their products and take into account market prices of inputs. The mandates of national energy socialism introduce politics into energy decisions. This invades property rights and selects inefficient policies. Air pollution is better addressed as a justice issue than as a political or government issue. Trump is obviously catering to Big Corn and Midwest votes.

The earlier version of this blog emphasized the unreadiness of cars for 15% ethanol. I overdid it because manufacturers have altered the parts to lower or eliminate alcohol issues. The amended blog suggests that, even with such responses, mandates are not efficient solutions to the problem of air pollutants; and they violate the non-aggression principle.

8:53 am on October 9, 2018

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