Federal transportation subsidy on transport of food and items of necessity. I would also have to imagine that if the government sees this happen, they will place an emergency repeal on ethanol subsidies to loosen the supply for food. But...I really don't know. It's a very good question...I may have to see what I can dig up on that one...Actually, I was lucky enough to have lunch with the Secretary of Energy last week (not just me of course...it was a group of 20 or so)...I would have loved to have had this question on my mind then. He was very frank and answered our questions in detail over lunch...I would have loved to see what he would have said to this....I think it would have been very interesting...
I guess a lot would depend on the time frame. Having the cost creeping up would, as you say, almost certainly cause policy changes with ethanol etc but a sharp increase over a short period (for whatever reason) could put some real strain on things.
