Ayup – the wonders of Capitalism (the marketplace governed by you) vs the dreariness of a Government directed economy (even if it is just lunch):
Students, Faculty Rejoice as PA School Drops Federally-Regulated School Lunch Program
A Pennsylvania high school is no longer bound by federal food regulations after the district decided to do away with the National School Lunch Program. Penn-Trafford High School had been struggling to comply with federal regulations as cafeteria revenues and student lunch participation took a dive, the Tribune-Review reported. The school’s lunch program is now free from restrictions on calories, fat, sugar, salt, and other elements, but lost federal funding to help cover free and reduced-priced lunches for some students. However, district business manager Brett Lago said the district has still been able to provide free and reduced-price lunches to students eligible for the school lunch program.
“We’ve lost, to date, about $40,000 worth of reimbursement, but our sales are up about $50,000 over last year,” he said. “Participation has gone from about 25 percent to 45 percent, and we’re still providing free lunches to all those students who would have been eligible under the school lunch program.”
And how did that happen? Every time the YOU directed economy happens – more choice (remember, Michelle’s directed “economy” severely limited choices because “you didn’t need that – and we know that you need this instead”:
The decision to ditch the federal regulations allowed the district to redesign the cafeteria to provide more options to students. The new cafeteria includes a deli and panini station, grill, main course counter, and other stations. “You get to choose what you want instead of being sort of funneled in and only having one choice,” junior Chase Zavarella said. “I think everyone is happier with the new selection.”
Who would have known? People like CHOICE! And they like CHOICE because Government “one size fits all” hardly works well – and Michelle’s take over of the school lunch program has been a shining example of the former over the latter. AND Capitalism (which is simply a transaction in which both sides voluntarily engage in and both see more value in doing the deal than not) also yields less waste:
Senior Brianna Lander said the school’s trash cans had produced less waste as a result of the changes because students would often throw out the fruit or vegetable they were required to take along with their lunches in the old program. “The trash cans were always full, sometimes overflowing,” Lander said. “You don’t see that now. People would go up to the snack line and get random junk food, where now you can get an actual meal and eat it.” Lago said the old program also required one-size fits all portions that didn’t account for different student body types and dietary needs.
What a concept – give people what they REALLY want and they’ll actually use it – instead of wasting that what they don’t. And the school made more money to provide the charity it wanted to do. Sounds like a WIN-WIN to me – you?
(H/T: Big Government)
