Public trust in the government has been tenuous in recent years due to a deluge of government waste and corruption. Government waste is a product of cronyism, where political exchanges between public officials and special interest groups manifest in legislation. The normally inclusive benefits of legislation are tapered to exclusive benefits claimed by a smaller group at the cost of the public.
The Renewable Fuel Standard, also referred to as the ethanol mandate, is one such example of cronyism. The ethanol mandate sets yearly volumetric requirements for renewable fuels to be blended into motor fuel sold in the states. The mandate has largely been met by mixing corn ethanol with gasoline…