Pirate's Cove

There are many things that The Donald does and says just to tweak Democrats, send them into apoplexy. On this, he was probably surprised that there is such a freakout

Opinion | Why Trump’s revival of this outdated fitness program is likely to do more harm than good

Everyone knows that American kids — and adults — need more exercise. If President Donald Trump’s recent decision to reinvigorate the federal Presidential Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition and reinstate the Presidential Fitness Test helps get more kids moving, as he promises, it would be a welcome step in the right direction. But what we know so far about this reboot — and Trump’s record on fitness — should make us wary of its ability to actually combat the epidemic of sedentariness that contributes to all kinds of health conditions, from obesity to mental illness.

The executive order re-establishes the council, which Trump had renamed during his first term to place “sports” before “fitness,” a subtle choice that apparently prioritizes competitive athletics over recreational exercise. Much of the language of the new order echoes the initiatives of earlier administrations, highlighting issues of obesity and insufficient military preparedness. Most notably, though, the order hits a competitive note, aiming to “reward excellence in physical education” and to develop criteria for a Presidential Fitness Award, an initiative in keeping with maintaining “America’s global dominance in sports.”

MSNBC’s Natalia Mehlman Petrzela has no idea how this is all going to shake down, what the test will look like, what the plans are for fitness, she (and so many more Liberals) just knows she’s against it. Natalia then offers up 5 paragraphs of whining about Trump and Robert Kennedy, who was probably behind this. Like him or not, he’s in pretty good shape.

Upon this week’s announcement, many took to social media to express how traumatizing they found the Presidential Fitness Test. That is, how the test Trump is resurrecting undermined the council’s goals, in that it celebrated the best athletes and alienated others, turning off many from a future of movement. For this reason, the Obamas retired the Presidential Fitness Test in favor of the Fitnessgram, which was less hierarchical and more focused on holistic lifestyle. And Trump apparently didn’t learn from one of JFK’s key mistakes: While the PCF’s campaigns encouraged citizens to lobby their local communities to spend on these programs, they were not funded with significant federal appropriations, meaning they were never more than an advisory and marketing campaign, albeit a very effective one at shifting Americans’ association with regular exercise in a positive direction.

Oh, good grief. Traumatizing? I would hope no one in Gen X is saying that. Gotta be a liberal Millennial and Gen Z thing. As far as what Obama instituted, did it make any difference? Holistic? Anyhow, Natalia rages for 3 more paragraphs till the end

I too am deeply concerned about the lack of exercise among American children and adults, and am thrilled this is an administration priority. Yet I worry that Trump is bringing back the narrowest version of JFK’s vision, having learned little from fitness culture since, making it unlikely that this endeavor will improve the fitness and overall health of everyday Americans.

“I too am deeply concerned, but, Orange Man Bad, so, I’m against it.” Seriously, as one comment says “Back in the early 70s we all did it , its not a pass or fail it’s to get people to be aware of the benefits of physical Fitness and the health that you get that comes with daily excersize.” Same in the 80s. Gym was for exercise. It’ll be OK, Democrats.