Imagine answering a knock on the door, only to find three burly health officers standing there with clipboards. The first officer says; The department has received a tip that you have been frying chicken for human consumption. The second officer says; That practice is a violation of the restrictions for your weight class. The third officer produces handcuffs from under his clipboard and slowly says; I'm sorry citizen, but you'll have to come with us.

Does this sound outlandish? Does this sound impossible to you? You had better hold on to your sagging belt line my friends, because this real possibility, or something similar, is coming straight at you.

An opinion report from Paul Hsieh of ABC News, reveals some startling realities about the lifestyle controls which are being imposed upon a growing number of the world's citizens. These behavioral conditioning requirements are being created and enforced under the power which is conferred to governments by socialist health care funding structures. In other words, the government is given the right to tell you how to care for yourself, if the taxpayers are funding your health care.

The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases indicates that obesity costs the United States upwards of $90 billion dollars annually. This figure is based on data from the late 1990s, and is calculated using 2002 dollar values. There is no doubt that obesity, like tobacco, places a great deal of stress upon the health care system and it's funds. You can bet that if universal health care becomes the standard in the United States, oversight of the proposition will be driven solely by cost factors, without regard for personal liberties.

Does this proposition still sound unbelievable to you? Well, consider it a reality already. Think about it the next time you buckle up your seat belt under threat of a heavy fine. Think about it as your favorite restaurant is forced by legislation to remove your favorite menu item from its offering. Think about it the next time your community college is forbidden by law to have a fund-raising bake sale.

Please step on your bathroom scale, citizen, and slowly repeat after me; "Big Brother is watching my waistline."

Disclaimer: The author of this blog post is 5 foot 10 inches tall and weighs 179 pounds, so he's going to have another cookie, whether the government likes it or not.