Changing 'people's lifestyles': Whose job is it?

In Lexington Herald-Leader columnist Tom Eblen's latest column, he quotes local councilman Jay McChord as saying: "What we need to do is change people's lifestyles."

The column is about how 100 of Kentucky's 120 counties are closing a street or highway for a few hours on Oct. 11 so that residents can take walk, enjoy a bike ride, run, jog "and to think about how regular exercise could make them healthier and happier." The project is known as "Second Sunday."

It's a good enough idea. But the quote from the councilman has me a bit concerned.

Whenever politicians or bureaucrats start thinking it's their duty to "change people's lifestyles," it seems appropriate to remind all Kentuckians: It's up to individuals, not the government nanny state and its minions, to "change people's lifestyles."