Now, the busy bodies in the US Senate want to use Obamacare to fund “community transformation.” From the story:
The bill reads:
“Activities within the plan shall focus on (but not be limited to)— (i) creating healthier school environments, including increasing healthy food options, physical activity opportunities, promotion of healthy lifestyle and prevention curricula, and activities to prevent chronic diseases; ii) creating the infrastructure to support active living and access to nutritious foods in a safe environment; (iii) developing and promoting programs targeting a variety of age levels to increase access to nutrition, physical activity and smoking cessation, enhance safety in a community, or address any other chronic disease priority area identified by the grantee.”
The transformation plans must also take action to promote certain “healthy options” at privately owned restaurants as well as “prioritizing strategies” to “reduce racial and ethnic disparities,” although the bill does not explain how racial and ethnic disparities figure in to community transformation.
The state, local, or community organization groups must also monitor the progress of their transformation plans among community members, measuring things such as weight loss, physical activity, and eating habits.
They can’t just deal with health care funding, can they? No. They have to try and “transform” society? It is a Utopian tilting at windmills that won’t make us more healthy or better society. But it will strip increase government intrusion into even the most mundane aspects of our lives as it drives us off a fiscal cliff. Good grief.