- cross-posted to:
- 196@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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“wE’rE gOnNa LoSe SaLeS iF yUo CaLl It A bUrGeR!!!”
The government, at least the American government, is actually urging people to eat more meat. For example, in Texas, if you own land, you can get a tax break if you make it for ag use. And the easiest way to get that subsidy is to have a certain number of cows on the land.
If the government wasn’t interfering in the free market, beef would be sold at its natural, more expensive price. People would not be able to afford to eat as much meat, and they’d eat a healthier diet with more plants.
So my point is that the conspiracy theorist is correct about the government interfering with people’s diets, but it’s in the opposite way than they think. They have it exactly backwards.
True of more than just the US, but for some number on the US:
The Department of Agriculture has spent almost $50 billion in subsidies for livestock operators since 1995, according to an EWG analysis.
By contrast, since 2018 the USDA has spent less than $30 million to support plant-based and other alternative proteins that may produce fewer greenhouse gases and may require less land than livestock.
For some global figures
Almost 90% of the $540bn in global subsidies given to farmers every year are “harmful”, a startling UN report has found
[…]
The biggest sources of greenhouse gas emissions, such as beef and milk, received the biggest subsidies, the report said. These are often produced by large industrialised groups that are best placed to gain access to subsidies.
It is worth also mentioning that despite these heavy subsidy differences, whole-food plant-based diets still end up generally being cheaper overall in most developed countries, unlike what you might think
It found that in high-income countries:
• Vegan diets were the most affordable and reduced food costs by up to one third.
• Vegetarian diets were a close second.
• Flexitarian diets with low amounts of meat and dairy reduced costs by 14%.
• By contrast, pescatarian diets increased costs by up to 2%.
https://www.ox.ac.uk/news/2021-11-11-sustainable-eating-cheaper-and-healthier-oxford-study
Based on primary data (n = 1040) collected through an online survey, representative of the Portuguese population, through logistic regressions, it was possible to conclude that plant-based consumers, particularly vegan, are associated with lower food expenditures compared to omnivorous consumers. In fact, plant-based consumers are shown to spend less than all other consumers assessed
https://agrifoodecon.springeropen.com/articles/10.1186/s40100-022-00224-9
i’m suspicious of your last three claims. the first and third one uncritically cite poore-nemecek 2018, which indicates they either don’t understand the issues with that methodology, or they don’t care (since it makes their “research” sound more impactful). the oxford study i have read in full, and it only addresses retail costs of food, making no mention of people who receive subsidized food, free food from poverty programs, or people who raise their own food, or hunt or trap or fish for it. basically, it excludes anyone who is actually poor.
Great research. Great links. On top of what you said, eating veg has so many advantages. I don’t know why people can’t see its inherent virtues. It’s cheaper. It’s healthier. You typically get that fiber you need. You typically get more food for fewer calories if you’re wanting to lose weight. It’s better for the environment.
It doesn’t have to be complicated to taste great. You can just cook up some asparagus spears on the stove top with some salt and oil, and most people will be happy, at least for that sort of meal once in a while. And almost anybody can cook that. Or who doesn’t like a baked sweet potato or some nice boiled corn? All simple shit.
And you don’t have to become a vegan to make a difference in your own life. Just starting by replacing one meat meal a week with a healthy vegetarian option is a big step in the right direction.
There’s even some communities on here with some good recipes and such too
Once you understand capitalism and the profit incentive and the concept of surplus value, it all makes sense.
I’m talking about taking money from average tax payers and redistributing it to land-owning ranchers, though. That doesn’t sound too much like capitalism.
But what do I know? Apparently, I don’t understand the basic ideas of capitalism that I learned in my first economics class in high school, so I truly do need somebody to condescendingly explain it all to me. It’s a good thing you showed up just in time.
Oh I was just adding onto what you were saying re: conspiracy theories vs actual economic incentive. I agree with all you said in your comment
You see, there is an incentive to farm meat because it creates more profit, and profit is god in this economic system, to put it simply.
Fascinating
Love this meme template. Can I also try?
Literally this with the 15-minute cities idea. They took the idea of “things should be close by” and turned it into some kind of conspiracy where the government want to lock everybody in little walled gardens.
Ah so the Ribwich
Huh. That reminds me of the gas stove thigny. A report states that gas stoves are emitting particles in the homes of those using them, and next thing you know, apparently the government wants to ban BBQs.
Well didn’t California try to ban gas stoves in new build houses?
Yah, that one’s kinda working against your argument.
But I want to eat the bugs…
I can settle for ocean bugs, tho (shrimps is good)
Yeah, except my Dad is actually the one on the far right side, and everyone else is on Fox News.
Not sure I completely follow what you’re trying to say?
My Dad is the final recipient of "THEY’re making us eat bugs!!!1!!“ and everything before that is just Fox News spinning him up to that point, which they never say, but lead him to think.
Ah like replace everything with just Fox News saying that, I follow now
Not sure why July 4th would be a big deal…
Yeah, we’d just skip from July 3rd to July 5th. If February can occasionally take an extra day, surely July can spare a day here or there.
Can I get a plant based buy alternative?
beans
Like some good plant-based stuff?
Whole foods wise: I love any legume beans, lentil, hummus, tofu, tempeh, edamame, nuts etc.
Pre-made product or recipe wise: I’m a big fan of oat milk, basically any Nora Cooks recipe ever, Beyond Sausage, plant-based Babybell (if you have any nostalgia for that), Fable Meaty Pulled Mushrooms (easier to get outside the US, though can somewhat order online in US or get at restaurants), etc.
