Are you ready for the meat tax?

I'm very glad that Germany is taking positive steps to tackle the looming environmental and public health problems. It may cost people more at the grocery store counter, including -- rather unfortunately -- the small minority of people who are obligate omnivores. But at least it will save even that minority money in terms of healthcare costs and property values. At least they'll be less likely to contract asthma from the emissions of toxic gasses and less likely to recieve permanent brain damage from tainted shellfish (which is frequently caused by algea blooms, which are, in themselves caused by intensive farming).

It's impossible not to feel at least a little bit bad for someone who's getting shot in the wallet for reasons they can't control, but meat consumption in the western world has spiraled so far out of hand that it's literally killing people and will continue to so if nothing more is done. Maybe this will help spur on the development of affordable synthetic supplements that can help aleviate this problem altogether. As for now, 19% is a reasonable cost for the benefits reaped. My only real complaint is that other animal products (such as dairy and eggs) aren't also getting taxed more, despite relying on the exact same industry.