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PETA seeks tax breaks for vegetarians

The Hill ^ | 5/31/07 | By Ilan Wurman

Posted on by Jean S

Edited on by Admin Moderator. [history]

Citing the need to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals is calling on congressional leaders to give vegetarians a tax break.

In a letter sent Wednesday to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), PETA President Ingrid Newkirk stated, [V]egetarians are responsible for far fewer greenhouse-gas emissions and other kinds of environmental degradation than meat-eaters.

The letter added that vegetarians should receive a tax break just as people who purchase a hybrid vehicle enjoy a tax break.

Asked how the government would certify that taxpayers are vegetarian, PETA spokesman Matt Prescott said, I imagine that a system could be adopted whereby taxpayers could show receipts for food purchases and/or sign an affidavit attesting that they are vegetarian. If Congress is seriously interested about rewarding people for reducing their carbon emissions, then it could develop a system to verify that people are vegetarian.

Congressional leaders, however, have not shown any indication of pursuing such a tax break.

The PETA letter draws on research conducted at the University of Chicago and a U.N. report. According to the letter, anyone switching to a hybrid car will lessen the emissions of carbon dioxide by only one ton per year, while anyone forgoing their love of meat will spare the environment one and a half tons per year.

Citing the U.N. report, Newkirk wrote, [S]cientists determined that raising animals for food generates more greenhouse gases than all the cars, trucks, and [planes] in the world combined.

Although most Americans cant afford to pay upward of $20,000 for a new hybrid car, the letter continues, everyone can go vegetarian.

Newkirk added, Anyone who buys a hybrid in order to cut down on their contribution to global warming and uses it to drive to the supermarket to buy chicken, steaks, and milk should face up to the fact that theres no such thing as a meat-eating environmentalist.

News Release: PETA to Congress: Hybrid Owners Get a Tax Break, but What About Vegetarians?



TOPICS:

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News/Current Events

KEYWORDS:

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To: JeanS

And there you have it - money for living someone else’s lifestyle - its for your own good.



by 2 posted onby WorkerbeeCitizen (I Relieve Myself In Islam's General Direction While I Deny Global Warming.)

To: JeanS

LMAO!!! I eat vegetables. I need a tax break too!



To: JeanS

Citing the need to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals is calling on congressional leaders to give vegetarians a tax break Phhfffttt. Break out the Beano, because vegetarians are the gassiest people I've ever met. Is methane not a greenhouse gas or something?



To: JeanS



Envirowackos are nuts! Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." -Manuel II Paleologus





by 5 posted onby goldstategop (In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives In My Heart Forever)

To: JeanS

Although most Americans cant afford to pay upward of $20,000 for a new hybrid car, the letter continues, everyone can go vegetarian. Not until they pry my cold dead fingers from the drumstick. How about we feed the PETA folks to cannibals instead?



by 6 posted onby SampleMan (Islamic tolerance is practiced by killing you last.)

To: JeanS

Abolish the IRS. Repeal the 16th. End this kind of foolishness.



by 7 posted onby SittinYonder (Ic þæt gehate, þæt ic heonon nelle fleon fotes trym, ac wille furðor gan)

To: goldstategop

“Envirowackos are nuts!” How is this whackier than any of the scams businesses are arranging to earn carbon credits? I think the PETA people are pretty sharp here. Get on the carbon offset wagon now before it falls apart.



To: JeanS

Asked how the government would certify that taxpayers are vegetarian, PETA spokesman Matt Prescott said, “Lalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalala......”



To: JeanS

PETA spokesman Matt Prescott said, I imagine that a system could be adopted whereby taxpayers could show receipts for food purchases..." Other than the obnoxious nanny state/Big Brother aspect of this, does anyone doubt for a moment that meat eaters will simply have their meat purchases rung up on a separate reciept, and simply show the food nazis the non-meat receipt? If a PETA freak says something, and there's no one there to hear it, is it still stupid?



To: JeanS

Only true communists could come up with a "3 card Monty" tax scam like this. What ever happened to equal protection under the law....hummmm? The DemocRATS are the communist party of America, proven, pure and simple.



by 11 posted onby timydnuc (I'll die on my feet before I'll live on my knees.)

To: SittinYonder

Seconded.



by 12 posted onby darkangel82 (Socialism is NOT an American value.)

To: JeanS

Yeah, but their diet should not be ignored:



To: JeanS

Peta get real..why is it every Vegetarian has a bottle of this in their kitchen and places it beside their meal? Don't see any Beef on the label do you?



To: JeanS

Vegetables are what food eats.



by 15 posted onby CholeraJoe ("Cruel is a matter of perspective." Cap'n Jack Sparrow)

To: JeanS

Is this a joke?



To: JeanS



Let's not forget the dangers of SMUG

To: Teflonic

I don’t think so. The Hill is a reliable source.



To: Ancient Drive

Of course I am a vegetarian — of course I am



To: WorkerbeeCitizen

How about a 100% tax break for every PETA members who agrees to stop exhaling?



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