The Nanny State: Feds propose monitoring how long you watch TV to control obesity

freebeacon.com...

The federal committee responsible for nutrition guidelines is calling for the adoption of “plant-based” diets, taxes on dessert, trained obesity “interventionists” at worksites, and electronic monitoring of how long Americans sit in front of the television. The Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (DGAC) released its far-reaching 571-page report of recommendations to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) ....
The screen-time recommendations came from The Community Guide, a group affiliated with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which reviewed studies that used an “electronic monitoring device to limit screen time” of teenagers.

We laugh now, but I predict this too shall come to pass
just like the Obama lunches that starve kids and
are buggy and moldy as we have all seen from the online pics

This is exactly why a Smart TV is an absolute no-no

My daughter and son-in-law recently bought a new TV,
he is a software engineer
and would not even go near a Smart TV

Although I also predict in the not too distant future
all new TV's will be smart TV's
so the government can monitor us in our living rooms

The plans are laid
if you think I'm being paranoid, just
look at what the government is planning
NOW.

It is such a small step from monitoring
to taxing YOU on watching too much TV
or remotely shutting off your TV

and all other electronic devices you
have that are wireless
and you watch TV or movies on

How will then ever monitor those of us that spend countless hours a day reading a good book.

It's a sad day when TV's are smarter than the people watching them.

People voted for this, though. People want this. No freedom, no responsibility.

This is what so many want.

Well, they got it!

originally posted by: InTheLight
How will then ever monitor those of us that spend countless hours a day reading a good book.

That will be the subversives way!

Bwa ha ha ha

a reply to: grandmakdw

Don't be surprised if a poster comes along in a few minutes telling us how we need the government to do this sort of thing because we are too fat and fat people raise Healthcare costs ....

Those people are the reason that we will have a world that will make Orwell's glimpse of the future seem mild.

How will they differentiate between people who have their TVs on and aren't really watching and those who have them on but are watching?

Ours spends a lot of time on, but no one really sits in front of it. It's what we call "background noise." Every so often, someone might stop what they're doing and watch for a minute or two, but no one actually sits in front of it.

If they want to monitor our couch potato time, they need to monitor our computers.

Oh wait ... Hi, NSA.

originally posted by: grandmakdw

originally posted by: InTheLight
How will then ever monitor those of us that spend countless hours a day reading a good book.

That will be the subversives way!

Bwa ha ha ha

Or let the book burning begin. Wait, computers will take care of that.

originally posted by: butcherguy
a reply to: grandmakdw

Don't be surprised if a poster comes along in a few minutes telling us how we need the government to do this sort of thing because we are too fat and fat people raise Healthcare costs ....

Those people are the reason that we will have a world that will make Orwell's glimpse of the future seem mild.

You mean the mind numbed sheeple
government mind controlled sycophants
The worshipers of all things liberal/progressive/socialist?

Yep, I'm expecting them any moment now.

originally posted by: ketsuko
How will they differentiate between people who have their TVs on and aren't really watching and those who have them on but are watching?

Ours spends a lot of time on, but no one really sits in front of it. It's what we call "background noise." Every so often, someone might stop what they're doing and watch for a minute or two, but no one actually sits in front of it.

If they want to monitor our couch potato time, they need to monitor our computers.

Oh wait ... Hi, NSA.

You are so right.

But wait ......

those TV's have camera's

so they can be fair and monitor who is watching TV

So my little dog who loves Animal Planet will be crushed, she must watch at least 8 hours a day when I am out! And yes, sadly I admit she is a little chubby, not fat according to her vet, but a tiny bit chubby. And she loves eating!

Then there was all the stuff in there about making people "transition" to certain diets, not because they're better for us but because they're better for the planet.

It's no one's business what I eat. Or at least it didn't used to be until we put them in charge of our health.

originally posted by: InTheLight
How will then ever monitor those of us that spend countless hours a day reading a good book.

Books will have a chip embedded in the cover...

originally posted by: ketsuko
Then there was all the stuff in there about making people "transition" to certain diets, not because they're better for us but because they're better for the planet.

It's no one's business what I eat. Or at least it didn't used to be until we put them in charge of our health.

You caught that did you?

There was a picture of plant based cupcakes to go along with the article.

Wait, plant based cupcakes
main ingredient: flour - plant based; wheat
secondary ingredient: sugar - plant based; beets, cane
tertiary ingredient: oil - can be plant based; veg oil, canola oil
Except for the milk and eggs (which are quite healthy)
well cupcakes are basically full of healthy items and heavily plant based!

originally posted by: Sunwolf

originally posted by: InTheLight
How will then ever monitor those of us that spend countless hours a day reading a good book.

Books will have a chip embedded in the cover...

Guess my Kindle will have to go.
Good thing I have a large stock of chipless books in my home
he he he he

This will never come to fruition. Television was quickly adapted after its creation as a mode to keep people complacent, and for the most part it works. It keeps people consuming, and believing, and propagandised, and maybe it keeps people fat.

I don't watch television, and that sure doesn't make me burn anymore calories each day.

I'm no expert on the American health care system, but from what I understand, you mostly pay your own medical bills, so if being obese or overweight is causing a burden on the healthcare system...obviously the people who are obese and can help it will likely be that way in absence of television. Most people know the health effects of anything they do to themselves and in the US know they'll have to pay for it.

I feel like this is just more propaganda to give the US citizens something to push back against, and when it doesn't happen, anyone caught up in this will feel a little comfort thinking that democracy works and their voice was heard.

a reply to: grandmakdw

taxes on dessert

Our blood sucking government will always find ways to pick our pockets of our hard earned money. If they're not finding new ways to add taxes they're increasing existing ones. When will we stand together and say enough is enough! There are millions of people struggling everyday just to keep their heads above water.

We're already being manipulated by corporations overcharging us for things like cable, satellite, internet and prescriptions. The healthcare and insurance industry are also overcharging us for medical devices, hospital procedures, life insurance and long term care. The oil and energy companies continue to manipulate us at will.

originally posted by: Atsbhct
This will never come to fruition. Television was quickly adapted after its creation as a mode to keep people complacent, and for the most part it works. It keeps people consuming, and believing, and propagandised, and maybe it keeps people fat.

I don't watch television, and that sure doesn't make me burn anymore calories each day.

I'm no expert on the American health care system, but from what I understand, you mostly pay your own medical bills, so if being obese or overweight is causing a burden on the healthcare system...obviously the people who are obese and can help it will likely be that way in absence of television. Most people know the health effects of anything they do to themselves and in the US know they'll have to pay for it.

I feel like this is just more propaganda to give the US citizens something to push back against, and when it doesn't happen, anyone caught up in this will feel a little comfort thinking that democracy works and their voice was heard.

Honestly after what Michelle Obama has done to school lunches

I really don't think this is far fetched at all

I had a queasy feeling about smart TV's all along
they just didn't "feel" right or "safe"
with cameras and voice always on
unless you go into the setup and turn them off
Even then, I'm certain there is a backdoor to turn them on

With the NSA and other alphabets collecting our emails and phone calls
I don't think it is to far fetched at all

a reply to: grandmakdw

The going conspiracy I've heard is that they need to transition us to "plant-based" (read starvation) diets because they plan to reduce us to third world peons and a society that eats meat is a wealthy society. So if they've tricked us compliantly into starvation rations like they're doing with the public school kids, we won't notice when we suddenly can't afford to eat anything good in the years to come.

originally posted by: Sunwolf

originally posted by: InTheLight
How will then ever monitor those of us that spend countless hours a day reading a good book.

Books will have a chip embedded in the cover...

So, if I allow them to put a chip on my treadmill, will they send me a monthly rebate cheque for being a model citizen? What's in it for me? I want a cut of the loot I will be saving the government.

originally posted by: InTheLight

originally posted by: Sunwolf

originally posted by: InTheLight
How will then ever monitor those of us that spend countless hours a day reading a good book.

Books will have a chip embedded in the cover...

So, if I allow them to put a chip on my treadmill, will they send me a monthly rebate cheque for being a model citizen? What's in it for me? I want a cut of the loot I will be saving the government.

I am, as I am watching the thread

on my recumbant exercise bike (good for bad backs)

It has a wireless monitor in it that is always on when the bike is plugged in

I called the manufacturer shortly after I got the bike (over a year ago) and there is no way to turn it off without disabling the entire computer
so they say

It was messing with my computer wireless

So I found a work around,
I only bike on one speed and don't vary

I discovered that if I quickly unplugged the bike while it was on my favorite speed,
that it would retain that speed.
(the speed is controlled by an internal device which moves beside the wheel
to adjust the speed)

So now, my exercise bike is unplugged on my favorite speed.

The feds will probably hate that one!

I was shocked to learn that modern exercise equipment is always transmitting wirelessly
when plugged in! However, I should not have been surprised, come to think of it.