It looks like tax reform will be President Trump’s next effort.
And while much will surely be discussed, we think there are two issues that
need to be addressed immediately: government subsidies for the meat industry
and the desperate need for a meat tax.
The United
States government awards tax dollars to meat producers in the form of aid
to growers of soybeans and corn, crops grown primarily as animal feed. And the
benefits to meat producers don’t stop there. According to an article
in the National Review, “They get
bailouts when they overproduce, have their most costly business expense (feed)
subsidized, get federally supervised dollars to market their products, and even
get free research and development that they benefit from but for which they
don’t pay a cent.
Without taxpayer-funded subsidies, the prices of
factory-farmed animal products would more closely reflect their true production
costs. Such prices would exceed most Americans’ price point for products
purchased on a daily basis.
And although we’re encouraged to eat more fresh produce,
only a small fraction of federal food subsidies are provided to farmers growing
fruits and vegetables for human consumption. The fact is, supporting the mass
production of cheap factory-farmed meat promotes unhealthy eating habits. It
also devastates the environment.
Raising animals for food produces more greenhouse gas
emissions than all the cars, planes, and other forms of transportation
combined. Because of the environmental destruction caused by meat production,
it’s time for leaders
to develop a meat tax.
A 2015 study by the U.K. think tank Chatham
House suggests that because meat is dangerous for human health and the
planet, governments should tax it. The study shows that resistance to a meat
tax would be short-lived, like resistance to cigarette taxes. People may balk
initially, but provided the government offers a clear rationale, they will
eventually accept the need for such a measure. (It’s worth noting that processed
meats have been put in the same category of cancer risk as cigarettes.)
According to the study, the public is largely unaware of the
link between climate change and dietary choices. “There is a considerable
awareness gap around the links between livestock, diet and climate change, the
authors argue. “While awareness-raising alone will not be sufficient to effect
dietary change, it will be crucial to ensuring the efficacy of the range of
government policy interventions required.
But getting people to eat fewer animal products isn’t just
good for public health and the planet; it also spares countless animals a
lifetime of misery at factory farms. Cows, pigs, and chickens raised and killed
for food are just as smart and sensitive as the dogs and cats we adore at home.
But at factory farms, animals are subjected to unimaginable cruelties:
intensive confinement, agonizing mutilations, and violent deaths.
See for yourself.
While it’s frustrating that our leaders often overlook the
cruelty and destruction associated with factory farming, you’re not powerless. You
can join the millions of people taking a stand against the meat industry by
switching to a compassionate vegan diet. Click here to get started.