Lawmakers in the New Mexico legislature have introduced a new measure, which would force a nanny tax on video games, TVs, and video game consoles.

The revenue generated from the game and TV tax would be used to fund a new state educational effort aimed at getting kids out of the house more.

Specifically, the new fund would empower officials at the New Mexico states parks division and public education department to do the following:

• Develop curriculum-based programs for teachers to use on public lands and at other outdoor learning sites for outdoor education initiatives;

• Develop hands-on teaching materials for children for use in outdoor education programs;

• Provide transportation for children to experience outdoor education programs;

• Provide substantial and frequent outdoor experiences for children; and

• Increase outdoor nature-oriented physical activity programs for school-age children.

While it’s a good thing to get outside, get exercise and fresh air, is it really the responsibility of the state to determine how much exercise you get?  Video games are no more responsible than spending hours surfing the Internet or instant messaging.  Perhaps we should also start adding an extra tax to books, puzzles, and traditional games, such as Monopoly.

Efforts to get kids to spend more time outdoors is great, but don’t let the government be your nanny and start dictating how your kids are raised.