An Amendment to AOC's Green New Deal

The Meat Tax

Ethical Eating and Taxation with Representation--Our Duty to Environmental Justice and Moral Rehabilitation

(A post more cut & dry than my previous Tourettes-ridden blurbs, apologies my collegiate homies)

TL/DR: Why should the educated and the health-conscious suffer the environmental costs of affordable meat? Why should we have to pay taxes for obesity-related health issues for those that lack self-control? We are being disproportionally taxed for others’ indulgence, and this is cause for government intervention. Meat, a previously affluent commodity, should not be so readily available to the masses. It has created an unstable environment that has spurred a domino effect of unsustainability across the world, and as the leader of cultural influence we must redefine the boundaries of the modern consumer. This becomes a matter under the direct purview of the U.S. government—legislation should protect the finances of the educated from the appetite of the masses. 

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Dear Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez,

Amidst our cultural elimination of single-use plastic, this generation’s unification over climate change, and your proposition of the Green New Deal (Meyer, 2018), it is an inevitable reality that our nation is barreling towards a future of ecological responsibility and resource efficiency. However, as clean energy replaces fossil fuels and awareness spreads of the necessity of a greener future, a stain remains on our otherwise progressive agenda: factory farming. My name is Manali Joshi. I’m a cognitive sciences major at the University of Georgia, and I am proposing a tax on meat that will reduce the negative health costs on consumers and the environment by concentrated animal feeding operations, or factory farms.

“The shift toward plant-based foods is being driven by millennials, who are most likely to consider the food source, animal welfare issues, and environmental impacts when making their purchasing decisions” (Rowland, 2018). That quote was in last April’s issue of Forbes magazine, which reported that one of the greatest challenges for American agriculture is my generation’s transition to plant-based substitutes. This portrays the climate in 2019, where affordable meat has created a substantial drain of resources and increased pollution, and consumers are spurring grassroot change. Our government needs to reflect this reality. In this letter, I’d like to argue that the USDA and FSIS’ failure to enforce the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act has shifted the millennial consumer lifestyle, and new legislation is required to ensure the financial security of Americans and create educated boundaries of consumption.

American culture is the keystone for affluence and modernity in the changing world. Simply put, what we do is mirrored by the rest of the world. Since 1961 meat consumption has increased almost five times (Ritchie, Hannah, & Max Rosser), which has created an unsustainable demand for meat production. Our 1960s development of factory farming changed the American palate: for the first time, meat was affordable by all classes, providing a source of nutrient and protein at a price previously unimaginable. However, it put significant strain on our land and water resources. And as other countries begin their economic climb, affordable meat becomes a landmark of modernity, risking environmental and health concerns for a token of affluence. This unsustainable practice is a direct responsibility of the American lifestyle.  

As our demand for meat increased, our methods of production crossed a moral boundary. The Humane Methods of Slaughter act was kept in place to ensure our food was ethically and legally obtained: but with little enforcement, concentrated animal slaughter operations developed gestation crates, molting patterns, and turnover rates that have been turned a blind eye. However, the implications are evident: the average chicken today contains 1/3 of the protein it did in 1960, and nearly three times the fat (Take Action 9). Animals kept in these conditions are more prone to stress-induced diseases including the avian flu, and the lack of regulation in their holding pens has created a breeding ground for infection.

The CDC estimates that at least 2 million illnesses come from an antibiotic-resistant infection every year, and the Center for Science in the Pubic Interest reports that 22% of these are linked to foodborne pathogens. Almost 80% of our pharmaceuticals go directly to factory farms, where antibiotics are used for preventative measures rather than legitimate medicinal treatment. Salmonella strains are six times more likely from caged eggs, and a reported 2/3 of UK poultry was contaminated with campylobacter, a cause of food poisoning (CDC 2016). This is what we are pumping into our consumer, and it is reflected in the health of our nation. It is time for government intervention: lack of enforcement in meat production is spurring new strains of antibiotic resistant diseases, risking the lives of infants and threatening the wellbeing of the consumer.

But affordable meat consumption has costs elsewhere: livestock accounts for an estimated 18% of greenhouse gas emissions, including 9% of the carbon dioxide, nearly 40% of the methane (25 times more potent than carbon dioxide), and 65% of the nitrous oxide (300 times more potent as carbon dioxide) (CSPI 2017). Intensive agriculture drains land of its nutrients, leaving arid, unfarmable land in its wake. Feces and manure pollute nearby rivers and water supply of surrounding areas. Living near a CAFO depletes the property value of its neighborhood. These factories are an unsavory industry pumping lethal pollutants into the environment and leaving toxic waste in its trail.

The UN estimates that 1/3 of the world’s food is wasted, a staggering $750 billion worth of perfectly consumable discarded away each year. Of that statistic, meat makes up $486B – that’s 12 billion farm animals, each of which takes up 1/3 of our cereal harvest and 80 tons of water, to be raised, slaughtered, and thrown away (Take Action). Our meat production has exceeded its demand. The value of meat does not match the cost of raising livestock, and in turn a previously valuable commodity has been reduced to disposable waste. This reflects an unnecessary strain on the environment and our resources and has brought the American palate the label of unsustainable overconsumption.

Simultaneously, the obesity epidemic has skyrocketed worldwide, with our country being the leader of obesity related diseases. Making meat so easily accessible and affordable has directly impacted the health of our working class, and in turn has raised healthcare taxes on those that are mindful of the impacts of cheap meat. This becomes a matter under the direct purview of the U.S. government—legislation should protect the finances of the educated from the appetite of the masses. And currently, with the affordability and accessibility of health-detrimental fast-food meat, our entire nation is paying for its consequences. I propose that a cheeseburger should be taxed just as a cigarette: when a person makes an intentionally poor decision, they should be fined for doing so.

Not all meat is the same: organic, small-scale agriculture is almost always more efficient. This is due to less waste, less expenses, and the direct supervision of local farmers who care about their product (Take Action). This meat is less fatty, and more nutritious and environmentally sustainable. Of course, this kind of meat is also more expensive and less readily available--as any valuable commodity should be. We as a country need to reevaluate the price we put on luxury items, and see that meat, a staggering environmental and health cost, should not be so readily affordable. Today’s fast-food meat is riddled with disease and lacks proper nutrition—we are factory producing what nature has already provided, and that has drained this resource of its benefits. Meat used to be a luxury for the educated, upper class: I argue that those of this station already pay more for organic and grass-fed meat, and its cheap replacement has not only taxed their financial interests, but their environment as well.

College-educated millennials are already petitioning for a change in our food production, and your Green New Deal is concrete proof of our vision for the future. If change is not taken, factory farms are estimated to double by 2050 (Take Action). Public government acknowledgement of the inefficient, resource-depleting habits of factory farmed meat could prevent other nations from adopting our habits, rippling across surrounding countries to create a future of ethical and environmentally mindful consumers.

Simply put, affluence no longer means meat. Factory farms gave us affordable meat, but this caused a demand for meat, eggs, and dairy products in developing countries, often with poorly regulated growth. We need to be the change that promotes meat and animal product consumption in an environmentally and socially sustainable way. Those that are conscious and ethically driven are aware of the environmental and health costs of this luxury and turned instead to getting their meat from organic, small-scale livestock farms or downright vegetarianism. Decreasing meat consumption is the new sign of education, political literacy, and true affluence.

Why should the educated and the health-conscious suffer the environmental costs of affordable meat? Why should we have to pay taxes for obesity-related health issues for those that lack self-control? We are being disproportionally taxed for others’ indulgence, and this is cause for government intervention. Meat, a previously affluent commodity, should not be so readily available to the masses. It has created an unstable environment that has spurred a domino effect of unsustainability across the world, and as the leader of cultural influence we must redefine the boundaries of the modern consumer.

I propose that factory farmed meat should be taxed to reflect the true costs of its production. If half of the meat produced is wasted, its price cannot be so low. Affordable meat is taxing us all: especially those who make health conscious decisions. The price of this commodity should showcase its environmental drain, its health cost, and its contribution to the development of antibiotic resistant bacteria. Raising the price of meat will lower obesity rates, public healthcare taxes, pollution, and energy and water consumption. Just as the cigarette tax decreased lung cancer, raising the price of meat will lower heart disease in our nation. Meat should remain a luxury.

Shifting our dietary patterns will have a widespread effect on countries that look to us for influence. The modern consumer wants a change: I hope my letter appropriately reflects the desires of my generation and contributes to our movement towards a greener future.

Sincerely,

Manali Joshi

CITATIONS

Meyer, Robinson. “The Democratic Party Wants to Make Climate Policy Exciting.” The Atlantic, Atlantic Media Company, 5 Dec. 2018, www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2018/12/ocasio-cortez-green-new-deal-winning-climate-strategy/576514/.

CDC Report on Antibiotic Resistance Doesn't Deliver Action Steps to Address Food Safety, Says CSPI.” CDC Report on Antibiotic Resistance Doesn't Deliver Action Steps to Address Food Safety, Says CSPI | Center for Science in the Public Interest, cspinet.org/new/201309161.html

“Home.” Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, www.fao.org/home/en/

“Biggest Threats and Data | Antibiotic/Antimicrobial Resistance | CDC.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, www.cdc.gov/drugresistance/biggest_threats.html?CDC_AA_refVal=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fdrugresistance%2Fthreat-report-2013%2Findex.html.

“ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE IN FOODBORNE PATHOGENS.” ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE IN FOODBORNE PATHOGENS | Center for Science in the Public Interest, cspinet.org/resource/antibiotic-resistance-foodborne-pathogens.

“Take Action to Stop Farmageddon.” Compassion in World Farming, www.ciwf.org.uk/books/farmageddon-the-true-cost-of-cheap-meat/take-action-to-stop-farmageddon/.

Geer, Abigail. “7 All-Star Organizations Fighting for Farm Animal Protection.” One Green Planet, One Green Planet, 13 Nov. 2015, www.onegreenplanet.org/animalsandnature/organizations-fighting-for-farm-animal-protection/.

“Rising Number of Farm Animals Poses Environmental and Public Health Risks.” Rising Number of Farm Animals Poses Environmental and Public Health Risks | Worldwatch Institute, www.worldwatch.org/rising-number-farm-animals-poses-environmental-and-public-health-risks-0.

Ritchie, Hannah, and Max Roser. “Meat and Seafood Production & Consumption.” Our World in Data, 25 Aug. 2017, ourworldindata.org/meat-and-seafood-production-consumption.