'Experts' call for a sin tax on meat just like cigarettes; Poor hardest hit

A story written by Lou Del Bello last December in “Futurism” has gained new life on Twitter thanks to a retweet that popped up this week:

Experts say meat should be taxed and discouraged as much as smoking has been for health and environmental reasons https://t.co/gUKDyegOXe pic.twitter.com/ogxBUlL0tJ

— Diane Francis (@dianefrancis1) March 15, 2018

So we’re talking about a “sin tax” on meat to discourage consumption? Let’s see what Del Bello had to say in December:

Eating too much meat and smoking both have an impact on the public, from an environmental and health perspective. Meat production degrades the environment by releasing greenhouse gas emissions and using up a disproportionate amount of land and water per unit of protein, while smoking leads to enormous health bills that the public often has to pay for.

In a new report, investment analysts suggest passing on the costs of the meat sector’s impacts to those directly responsible, the same way we tax smokers. The simple idea of the so-called meat tax is that if your burger ends up costing as much as a plate of caviar, you may decide to explore vegetarian options.

It’s a regressive tax, though, hitting hardest the least nourished who need to increase their meat consumption. What to do?

Oh, wait, we just checked and this is still America.

https://twitter.com/Oil_Guns_Merica/status/974652301813182465

But … the experts …

https://twitter.com/rshackelford14/status/974439701598715904

“Experts”
Yeah, i don’t believe that for a damn second. https://t.co/LzvhIJu7WZ

— PL4Y3R 0N3 (@PL4Y3R_0N3) March 16, 2018

Experts in what https://t.co/pRQMqp1RLj

— Caleb Howe (@CalebHowe) March 17, 2018

"Prime beef is a commodity meant only for the rich."

You know, I always get a laugh when my dad goes on his 'experts are crooks' tirade, but then I see stupid headlines like this. Let's jack up gas prices, too, you know, 'for the planet.' https://t.co/hjIKh95kyR

— Krizzと (@konkarrne) March 17, 2018

You're a bad person. A nosy, do-nothing busybody who seeks to control and have power over people equal to the most gruesome tyrants. But the heart of it is that you are so full of self-righteous gall that you're completely blind to your evil. https://t.co/VPI67htZEL

— Conservative Thought Leader™️ (@BigJebBos) March 16, 2018

This is how you get Civil War II. https://t.co/6vIzv8qKqF

— Price T. Morgan (@pricetmorgan) March 17, 2018

Related:

Mayor Bloomberg confident soda ban will stand following appeal; 'People are dying every day' http://t.co/AeBNX33iii

— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) March 11, 2013