Ryan Walsh

Studies from the EPI and other organizations have shown that investment into public transportation infrastructure (e.g. highways, trains, buses, etc) have a multiplier effect of $1.5 returned on every $1 spent (https://www.epi.org/publication/the-potential-macroeconomic-benefits-from-increasing-infrastructure-investment/). 

By investing in public infrastructure we are able to create much more economic growth and opportunities than any tax cut. The same rings true with education, investing in education is incredibly undervalued and the decrease in federal funding for lower and higher education has contributed significantly to the student loan debt crisis and decreased economic outcomes for many communities. 

Meat is a centerpiece culture and it indicates one's status. It's the centerpiece because it defines most meals, when people plan get together and holidays they talk about what meat they will eat, no one is going to say "Come on over on Sunday to watch the game, we'll have a few beers and throw some corn on the grill".

It indicates status because, throughout history, the process to raise livestock was a massive investment in time and resources; making it a rare treat for those who were not wealthy. That cost of meat has gone down massively because of government subsidies for crops to feed livestock and for livestock farmers as well. 

I say all of this as someone who used to eat meat and love it. Everyone eating meat every day, especially beef, is unsustainable for the planet. There is not enough resources and land for the growing demand for meat which is pushing farmers in countries like Brazil to burn down ecosystems like the Amazon Rainforest for more land to raise beef. The cost in resources and land for animal protein is far greater than vegetable protein.

However, meat is cultural and people do not connect the supply chain of where their food is produced. For them it's the end result, a juicy steak and a great meal. It's understandable and won't change until the economics of the market change.

One thing I'm hopeful about is the potential for vegetable protein that tastes like meat (like the Impossible Burger) becoming increasingly popular and the continueing development of lab grown meat that avoids the whole wasteful process of raising livestock on limited resources. If consumers have more choices that allow them to enjoy what they love at a comparable (or cheaper price) they will start to switch.