Al Gore Mea Culpa: Support for Corn-Based Ethanol Was a Mistake

THis coming from a guy that wastes more energy than a small city in his huge home and fleet of cars. Another do as I say not as I do politician.

I love the little disclaimer at the bottom "civil dialogue". It is obvious to everyone that those days have passed in the US. Certainly when it comes to comments posted on the internet in the comment section of almost any article, on almost any topic. I will add only this not speaking to the merits of ethanol but rather how refreshing it is to see a former political figure/politician admit they were "wrong" about a certain policy agenda or idea...I voted for this man in 200 and am more happy today having done so than at the time, and it is my honest opinion that the course of history would have changed dramatically had he been in office, most probably for the better, of course in some ways perhaps for the worse. You'll never hear Our last President admit to any mistakes or misguided policy decisions, so in that sense I'm glad Gore can be honest with his supporters and those who respect his LARGE and INFLUENTIAL body of work during his time in office and his extensive climate-change related works since entering private life.

A key ingredient to ethnol is corn. A key ingredient to the production of corn is water. Where does the water come from? Ground water...What happens after our ground water is consumed in the production of ethonol? We starve...what happends if we don't have ethonol? We eat and perhaps use more oil or use more wind farms... The choice is obvious unless you are a farmer...or a politician...

Do we still subsidise farmers for not growing crops ??

I am embarrassed I voted for this man in 2000. How can he think he has any credibility now regarding any enviromental issue after this? I just get more disgusted by our political "elite" on both sides every day. I don't know how, but the money has to get out of our politics somehow so those that want to run to actually serve We the People can afford to do so.

When was the last time you heard a public figure admit he made a mistake? Oh, I'm sure folks on the right and left will ready to jump down his throat, assigning whatever sinister motives they care to attribute. But, the fact is that Al Gore has done more to raise the public consciousness on the issue of climate change than just about anyone else in recent years.

Every part of the process is used completely so the cost base they use is not correct !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and if truely was high cost to produce then why have the mid west farmers been using it for years to beat the higher cost fuels of the time, even back in the 50's????? why can they not give honest info at all about anything??? even the greenhouse gas issue is flawed

You don't find it offensive that Gore's "excuse" for his mistake was that he was buying votes? "One of the reasons I made that mistake is that I paid particular attention to the farmers in my home state of Tennessee," he said, "and I had a certain fondness for the farmers in the state of Iowa because I was about to run for president." Unbelievable! This is akin to saying one isn't to blame for a bad act because they were drunk. This is not an excuse. It's another serious problem! He's a powerful man and, I wish he hadn't told us how corrupt he is and how stupid we are for backing him. Why couldn't he just say he miscalculated? Instead he adds insult to injury by his in your face admission that votes were more important than good policy. Oh, well, okay then.

This is the problem with The American Political System.... just like the recent California election for governor. The various unions subsidized Brown's election to the tune of over $75M. While a substantial financial problem in California is imigration, the second biggest problem (or 1b if you will) is unfunded financial commitments to union employees; local, city, and state. A governor elected to office here needs to be on an adversarial basis with unions not beholding. Our government representatives are on the great taxpayer give away and, candidly, the citizens deserve it because of their complacency. Go Tea Party!!!!!

Every thoughtful, informed, and fair thinking person knew the whole ethanol production strategy was/is a sham. It's basically burning coal and diesel to produce another fuel that takes more energy to make than it produces and takes a chunk of farmland out of food production to boot. It has a negative enviromental impact. Gore new it then, it's not a revelation to him now. His true character on display.