The President's Request for Additional Food Aid Dollars

The Press Release by the Whitehouse about the President's request for an additional $770 million in food aid is an interesting read. Follow the link to the complete article.

Fact Sheet: Leading the Fight Against Hunger

President Bush Requests Additional Global Food Assistance To Ensure Millions Facing Hunger Get The Food They Need

"The American people are generous people and they're compassionate people. We believe in a timeless truth: To whom much is given, much is expected. And so therefore at home we are working to ensure that the neediest among us can cope with the rising food prices. And with the new international funding I'm announcing today, we're sending a clear message to the world: that America will lead the fight against hunger for years to come."
– President George W. Bush, 5/1/08

Today, President Bush called on Congress to provide an additional $770 million to support food aid and development programs. Rising prices have complicated our worldwide food assistance efforts and...(complete article here).

The very last part of the Press Release refers to the impact of biofuels production on the global food commodities pricing. Specifically, it compares the percentage increase in the U.S. to the global increase. The issue is both complex and politically charged. I have been a supporter of President Bush on most issues throughout his tenure. I believe that he has done an admirable job in one of the most difficult positions on the planet through very trying times. Ethanol is one issue with which I am in total disagreement with him. Perhaps it is because of the devastating impact that it has had on livestock production in the U.S. Perhaps it is because I oppose unnecessary Federal mandates when the free market is the best determiner of the allocation of inputs in the economy. Perhaps it is because increased corn production is putting additional pressure on scarce water resources used for irrigation. Perhaps it is just a strong sense that it is the wrong direction in which to focus our efforts toward energy independence. There is a huge amount of capital being poured into biofuels today. Would that money not be better invested in new technology?

I pray that the President will not become tethered to this misguided policy through a sense of "staying-the-course" when a change of course might be more prudent. There are no easy answers to the energy issues that we face. We will make some faltering missteps along the way. Just like a baby learning to walk, or a young person leaving home to face the world on their own, we will make mistakes. We must learn to accept mistakes for what they are -- learning experiences -- then move on to something better.