The Idea is Good. The Plan is Bad.

The Center Party's proposal to have students serve as visiting friends to the elderly in exchange for loan write-downs has been met with skepticism regarding its practical feasibility. While the idea is framed as a "win-win" scenario, the challenges in its implementation are significant.

Kjersti Toppe, leader of the parliamentary health and care committee, introduced the concept, suggesting it could alleviate loneliness among seniors while providing financial relief to students. However, the existing visiting friend system, managed by the Red Cross, already involves nearly 10,000 volunteers across all age groups, many of whom are young.

The article implies that while the intention is good, the practicalities of organizing and managing such a program on a larger scale, ensuring meaningful connections, and verifying the service for loan write-downs present considerable hurdles. The current Red Cross model, built on voluntary commitment, may not easily translate into a structured, incentivized program for students.