OPINION/COMMENTARY

Obesity resurrects CARA

Unbelievable. The old CARA bill is coming back under the pretense of concern about the nation’s obesity problem. The old idea has been given a new name -- the "Get Outdoors Act."

Along with finger pointing at corn sweeteners, fast foods and mom’s homemade pies, now it is because the government doesn’t own enough land that is causing obesity. Where does personal accountability fit in?

Perhaps some thought should be given to reopening some of the trails that have been closed to the public in the National Forests and National Parks for fear the "obese" and others would destroy the ecosystem.

Before more open space and land is bought under the guise of "recreation for the obese," we need to request an accounting of the almost 50% of the nation’s land now owned by government and environmental land trusts and the untold percent under government control.

The federal bill HR 4100, called the "Get Outdoors Act," is sponsored by extreme green Congressman George Miller (D-CA) and ‘once’ friend of property rights, Congressman Don Young (R-AK). It appears Young is more concerned about the pork that will return to Alaska from this bill than the rights of the people he represents. These were the same legislators who promoted CARA.

The "Get Outdoors Act of 2004" will provide for $3 billion in guaranteed annual funding for outdoor and recreation purposes to address the obesity crisis using the same offshore drilling revenue funding as CARA....