Health Concern Or More Government Intrusion?

Katy Citizen Watchdog$

We’re Taxpayers. It’s Our Money.

Health Concern Or More Government Intrusion?

So last Tuesday I’m checking the Watchdog web site e-mail and I come across an e-mail from a concerned Cinco Ranch parent telling us about a letter that their child brought home. By now you’ve probably read the Fitnessgram letter that we have posted on the web site. I also hope that you have had a chance to review the brief of the bill that was written by the Senate research group (also posted on the web site).

So now you are probably asking yourself; how could anyone be against this new law? Isn’t it grand that our elected officials are trying to look out for our children? Look, I’ll be the first one to say that there is nothing more important than one’s health and well-being. My problem is that this is legislated fitness. My objection stems from the fact that it is not government’s job to monitor or rate the health and fitness of any American. It is not government’s job to try and protect Americans from themselves. Now I am not a lawyer, but as a Constitutionalist I am questioning as to whether or not this new law is even constitutional. In order to get the Attorney General of Texas to issue a legal opinion as to the constitutionality of any law, there are certain criteria as to who can make such a request. Without getting into all the boring details of who and who cannot request such an opinion, suffice it to say that I am trying to find a representative that will ask for such an opinion. I will keep you posted on my efforts.

When I contacted Senator Patrick, an individual that I thought was for less government, his response was as follows:

“When you say it is not the business of government to know the health and fitness of each American, remember that we spend billions of dollars each year in the state for healthcare. Those are our tax dollars. The healthier our citizens are the less the cost of healthcare will be to the taxpayers, not to mention the benefit to the person. Healthcare is the second highest share of our total budget.”

Before sending my e-mail to Senator Patrick I already knew that he would probably play the healthcare cost card, but I would venture to guess that a great deal of that expenditure is related to the illegal aliens that we are servicing in our state. I would also offer that we probably spend a great deal of money educating illegal aliens, feeding illegal aliens, housing illegal aliens in our prisons and jails; not to mention their participation in our abundant social programs. I told Senator Patrick that it was my view that government has absolutely NO business mandating the health and fitness of anyone.

What’s next? Is government going to start mandating what we eat or how much we eat? Is government going to begin mandating that the adult population be screened for health and fitness? I say the health, fitness and well-being of my children is MY responsibility. After all, isn’t that what a parent is supposed to do? I guess you can tell by now I don’t buy into that it takes a “village to raise a child” rhetoric of Ms. Clinton.

I might also remind Senator Patrick that these unfunded mandates that are handed down by our legislature cost the taxpayers of this state billions; not to mention the lost classroom hours that cost our children instructional time.

Yes, this new law seems mundane, but isn’t that how every new government intrusion begins? Before you know it all the small and mundane intrusions turn into one bigger intrusion. Before you know it another small part of our personal freedoms and liberties are taken away.

If you are incensed about this nonsense as much as I am I would encourage you to write your local legislators and tell them that it’s none of their business as to the health and fitness of our children.

Chris Cottrell, Katy Citizen Watchdog$

Date: 02/20/2008