Say we had a product that consumers hated, that drove up food and gasoline prices and that caused as much or more environmental damage than a similar, less costly product. What would our government do about it?

Force us to use more, of course.

That’s the direction we are headed since the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency authorized a test of 15 percent ethanol gasoline.

Unless Congress intervenes, we may see 15 percent ethanol gasoline at our pumps in the coming year.

In response, the Maine Legislature has been working on a bill sponsored by Rep. Jeffrey Timberlake, R-Turner, that would allow the sale of 5 percent ethanol gas and perhaps eliminate ethanol if two other New England states did the same.

Timberlake’s bill got solid support two weeks ago when the House approved it 109- 32. Last week, the Senate swung the other way, voting 21-14 against, concerned by reports that banning ethanol might increase the cost of gasoline by 50 cents per gallon.

By now, most people are familiar with damage done by ethanol to small motors. It gums up carburetors and eats away at plastic hoses and washers.

Others realize it has increased the cost of a wide variety of food products by diverting corn from food production.

Some have seen studies showing that making and burning ethanol causes as much environmental damage as straight gasoline.

And the real students of the subject are aware that cars and trucks using ethanol get worse fuel mileage and have less power.

The upside is … Sorry, no upside, unless you count the benefit to corn farmers, who want the rest of us to pay higher prices for their product.

So why is the federal EPA pushing us to increase the use of ethanol?

The answer is a combination of government inanity and insanity.

A decade ago, when it didn’t seem as if the U.S. would ever achieve energy independence, ethanol seemed like a good idea. We would grow our own fuel to keep us from importing more and more.

So, Congress established a massive incentive program for corn farmers to produce the costly fuel additive. That means your tax money is used to help offset the higher cost of the added ethanol.

In 2005, Congress passed the Renewable Fuel Standard, requiring the U.S. to use an increasing amount of ethanol over 15 years, starting with 9 billion gallons in 2008 and increasing to 22 billion gallons in 2022.

One problem: The formula was based upon Americans consuming more and more gasoline.

Then came the recession, which slashed the amount of gasoline used; and advances in auto technology, like hybrids, which cut gasoline consumption more.

New fuel economy standards will further cut gasoline consumption far into the future.

As a result, we are now producing more ethanol than we can consume at the 10 percent ratio.

The ethanol program is a classic government boondoggle, but it has hardcore support in corn-growing states where rural communities have prospered.

The problem for states like Maine is that we are paying for a farm-price support program with higher taxes, lower gas mileage, more smog, higher prices and small motors that won’t work.

Congress should repeal the section of the 2005 law mandating greater production of ethanol then set a gradual to remove ethanol from gasoline entirely.

In the meantime, bravo to Timberlake.

— Sun Journal of Lewiston