Aquestion to all those who support universal government-run health care. How will you keep individuals from using our health care to tell us what to consume or purchase? When you combine our health care records that will now be in the hands of the government (IRS and HHS) with the pressure to keep costs low, will this new “crisis” require the government to review the purchases we make to “help us” eat healthier?

If you combine the Wall Street reform bill (signed by President Barack Obama on July 21), Consumer Protection Act, which is nearly 2,000 pages, and the recently signed health care legislation (over 1,000 pages), we will have consequences that no one saw coming.

No wonder U.S. Sen. Christopher Dodd (DConn.) and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (DCalif.) were right when they both basically told the American public that we had to wait until the bills were passed before we could experience the joy they will bring to our lives.

First Lady Michelle Obama has started a nationwide crusade to fight obesity. While on the surface no one would argue this sounds like a noble goal, we need to dig deeper.

In section 3001 of the 2009 Economic Stimulus Bill that is now law, we as citizens are required to submit our weight so that the government can monitor your Body Mass Index (BMI). So now not only does your doctor, pharmacy and insurance company have access to your health records (BMI, blood pressure, disease history, mental health and prescriptions), but now government agents and those pesky hackers are just a few clicks away.

New York City wants to ban salt, oil used to pop popcorn in movie theaters was replaced with “healthier” oil years ago, San Francisco is banning sodas from vending machines under an executive order from Mayor Gavin Newsom, and Happy Meal toys at McDonald’s are under attack in California, just to name a few healthy choices being made for you by your government.

In the pages of the Obamacare law, if you have small children or are pregnant, you can have a “voluntary visit” by a government agent who is there to help a young, inexperienced new family. Whatever happened to relying on your family, neighbors, friends or even a local religious establishment?

Now back to the first lady. How much easier would it be if we could act as the helpful big sister or big brother to review your purchases — groceries, fast food, restaurant visits, gym membership or sports activities, etc. — and combine them with your health records (allergies, weight, doctor visits and exams) so as to best advise a well-thought-out nutritional plan for you and your family.

Big conspiracy or a glimpse of things to come?

Under the new Wall Street reform bill, how much pressure would a financial company be under (excluding those already being run by the federal government) to go along with new government requirements or requests to share their customer information?

Under the new financial reform bill, the government (FDIC) can determine if a company is too big to fail, but more importantly the government can decide when that company needs to be saved and how to carve up its assets. Sounds very much like a bully to me.

Now that they have all your information, where can you go if the government tells you that your eating habits need to change to stay on their health care plan? Or, in the best interest of your children, you need to be more aware of healthy options and how to teach your children about them.

While we are at it, why not also show and teach them the impact of their diet on the planet (global warming) when you eat at McDonald’s (can you say cow flatulence and SUV CO2?). What kind of parent would you be if you didn’t think these things through for them? Maybe a parent who needs government visits and suggestions while raising that child.

Just some food for thought the next time you are running through McDonald’s for your kids while running late to the next soccer practice. It happens to me every week.

Shaun M. Stalker is a resident of Jackson Township.