NationStates Jolt Archive

A strange idea. What if, instead of food coupons and the like, people were issued food cards? These would be setup to a well regulated government system, which would give people flexible credit toward food, based on calorie count instead of price. There would probably be a max money count, but only for an exorbitantly high daily pricetag. Each person(who applies, btw, as not all people would be forced to use the cards, but anyone could) would get a calorie count based on their height and weight, though people could try to qualify for more calories per day(labourous work, pregnant, doctor-recommended, etc). This would streamline the process of people getting a basic nessecity, letting people get onto buisness instead of sustinance.

Yes, freedom of choice is such a stupid idea. We just can't handle that much responsibility.

A strange idea. What if, instead of food coupons and the like, people were issued food cards? These would be setup to a well regulated government system, which would give people flexible credit toward food, based on calorie count instead of price. There would probably be a max money count, but only for an exorbitantly high daily pricetag. Each person(who applies, btw, as not all people would be forced to use the cards, but anyone could) would get a calorie count based on their height and weight, though people could try to qualify for more calories per day(labourous work, pregnant, doctor-recommended, etc). This would streamline the process of people getting a basic nessecity, letting people get onto buisness instead of sustinance.
food coupons? for the unemployed?

it sounds like a great idea... so many people without sufficient health education eat so much (high calorie) junk food. this way they could get more food, overall, if they choose to eat healthily instead. both the US and the UK have obesity problems in general population, so anything that can help fight this has got to be good
good idea :)


edit: Yes, freedom of choice is such a stupid idea. We just can't handle that much responsibility.
evidently we can't with still growing levels of obesity and related illnesses

The Inner Party finds your ideas very interesting, comrade :P

Seriously, that's a ridculous idea.

edit:
evidently we can't with still growing levels of obesity and related illnesses
Well, about 50% of us can. Do we really need more government guidance on how to live?

Dieting has been around since the dawn of humanity. Calorie counting was just one more fad diet in the long history of fad diets.

Government Rationing occured during times of war in various places around the world. Most notably nations with highly centralized governments.

Combine these two, and get Calorie Cards! Seriously, what purpose does it serve? Some kind of government-backed diet? That didn't work with the food pyramid, nor can nutritionalists agree from year to year just what does and doesn't cause cancer.

Its a pointless endevor.

Well, about 50% of us can. Do we really need more government guidance on how to live?
50% of us do :p

well it is a health risk, and there are such things as demerit goods - things people place too much value on relative to their real benefit, and junk food could be included as one. other demerit goods are discouraged through specific taxes, for the benefit of the population... why not food that is harmful to you?

of course the food is not inherently harmful immediatley, but frequent trips to maccy D's, or buying only the most fatty crap at supermarkets is what causes the health problems. these calorie cards could help reduce this

its not only good for the people, but good for everyone as a healthy population is a harder working and happier population. it could also save the health industry (NHS or otherwise) a shitload of money each year in treating obesity related disease



but lets not hijack this with a 'big govt vs libertarianism' debate, eh? ;)



edit: Dieting has been around since the dawn of humanity. Calorie counting was just one more fad diet in the long history of fad diets.

Government Rationing occured during times of war in various places around the world. Most notably nations with highly centralized governments.

Combine these two, and get Calorie Cards! Seriously, what purpose does it serve? Some kind of government-backed diet? That didn't work with the food pyramid, nor can nutritionalists agree from year to year just what does and doesn't cause cancer.

Its a pointless endevor.
i took it as a measure for the unemployed - here in the UK at least i think you get food vouchers to offset some of the cost of your food shopping, only redeemable in certain stores.
it is the unemployed, poor, and less well educated who typically suffer from the problems of poor diet and fast food, and replacing these coupons with calorie cards could help this section of society become more healthy.
and it wouldn't be against their will - they could still eat unhealthy, calorific foods if they wanted - but just less of them; so its gentle encouragement towards eating more healthily.

please don't tell me encouraging people to eat more healthily is a bad thing :confused:

I accept there needs to be a solution to obesity. I think the best way is through education and advertising. Not the government saying nannying us.

50% of us do :p

...

its not only good for the people, but good for everyone as a healthy population is a harder working and happier population. it could also save the health industry (NHS or otherwise) a shitload of money each year in treating obesity related disease
...

please don't tell me encouraging people to eat more healthily is a bad thing :confused:
What about mandatory jogging hours? Why alcohol and tobacco are still legal? I agree that obesity is a huge health problem but I disagree that it should be controlled by governments. People should know about the risks but that's it. After that it's up to people.

please don't tell me encouraging people to eat more healthily is a bad thing :confused:

While I have little knowledge of the specifics of your nation's system; I would suggest that your current system could be reformed to include or even promote healthy eating with little effort on the part of the government. No need for a national program of Calorie cards.

Nor do I suggest that eating "healthy" is a bad thing. But "Healthy" eating is a neabulous, hard to define concept, based on a number of factors as specific as each induvidual human. Thus, broad government attempts to dictate policy along such terms are met with due skepticism.

Another idea:
Why don't they make the doors to McDs et al extra narrow so lard-arses can't get through them?
The same could be done for the snack food aisle at the supermarket.


Or perhaps....
To buy snack/junk food you first have to run on a treadmill until they've burnt off the same number of calories they're about to eat.


Any other ideas floating around out there?