Compared to their Liberal and Social Democratic counterparts, conservatives both in the US and the UK have a reputation for being the party that promotes individual liberty and self-responsibility. Perhaps as a consequence of these stances, they also are known as the "eat-your-spinach" party. A recent health care proposal advanced by the UK's Conservative party will do nothing to reverse that image. In short it's a combination of carrots (incentives), sticks (penalties), and carrot sticks:

Failing to follow a healthy lifestyle could lead to free NHS treatment being denied under the Tory plans. Patients would be handed "NHS Health Miles Cards" allowing them to earn reward points for losing weight, giving up smoking, receiving immunisations or attending regular health screenings.

Like a supermarket loyalty card, the points could be redeemed as discounts on gym membership and fresh fruit and vegetables, or even give priority for other public services - such as jumping the queue for council housing. But heavy smokers, the obese and binge drinkers who were a drain on the NHS could be denied some routine treatments such as hip replacements until they cleaned up their act. Those who abused the system - by calling an ambulance when a trip to the [general practitioner] would be sufficient, or telephoning out of hours with needless queries - could also be penalised.

The report calls for a greater emphasis on the "citizen's responsibility" to be healthy and says no one should expect taxpayers to fund their unhealthy lifestyles.

While I am sure that Popeye would approve, I have never lived in the UK and can't predict how the public there will react to such plans. My hunch is that it won't be long before advocacy group says it's unfair to deny artificial hips to those eating too much fish and chips. I also suspect that if implemented, the government will have considerable problems with monitoring people's unhealthy behavior. I mean, how exactly will the government hope to find out who "binge" drinks and smokes "heavily" and who does not? With a network of informers? By video cameras outside every Dunkin' Donuts around the country? And how will those terms be defined and by whom? Who determines what is a needless question and what is not? Finally, at what point does promoting self-responsibility become too much of a good thing and begin to be an infringement on people's individual liberty? If this plan is implemented, we may soon find out.