Stephan’s post reminded me of my earlier period of innocence when, in the early 1960s, I was active in the Republican Party in Nebraska. I was a member of a statewide Young Republican committee that focused attention on the conversion of corn into alcohol, which could be used as a fuel source (this was, as I recall, before “gasahol” became popular). Because Nebraska is a major corn producing state, we proposed that a federal government alcohol reduction plant in Omaha be sold to a private company for the purpose of creating this alternative fuel source, thus benefiting farmers. We did not get far in our proposal, however, as one of the Republican senators from Nebraska – a recipient of contributions from the oil industry – ordered an end to our fledgling project. And that was back in the days when the GOP still pretended to be supportive of the marketplace!

The Best of Butler Shaffer