ethanol / California insurance surcharge

These topics were originally scheduled for September 22::

1. In the United States, as much as one-third of the maize crop this year will go to the gas tank and this is a huge blow to the world food supply.   Should we continue developing biofuels as an alternative to the use of oil?
   
2. Gov Schwarzenegger proposes a surcharge on property insurance statewide to defray the state's cost for fire protection and emergency response.  Should all taxpayers subsidize people who choose to live in fire-prone areas?  
   

Regarding item #1:

From my other blog: ethanol

Regarding item #2:

Press-Enterprise: Fire burdens