TTAC Editor Jeff Puthuff warns:
“Before you play the video of Glenn Beck’s latest loony-tunes conspiracy theory, keep in mind that it’s totally nuts. Here’s the key information debunking it:
1. If you are a consumer visiting cars.gov (the “cash for clunkers” website) the Federal government cannot take control over your computer, nor will it ask permission to do so.
2. The “Terms of Use” statement to which Beck refers in this clip is not from cars.gov. Rather it is a login page for dealer transactions located at esc.gov.
3. The only people who can get login credentials for the esc.gov site are dealers who have been screened and registered for the “cash for clunkers” program.
4. To summarize: the page in question isn’t on cars.gov and can only be used by dealers who have already registered. Consumers won’t be impacted by any of this.”
Glenn Beck is basically a crazy man taken away from his usual job of screaming on a street corner, showered, and televised.
Plus, I’s punch anyone who touched my laptop’s screen.
On the other hand, that’s one hell of a EULA.
Oh yeah, Glenn Beck, that bastion of reason and logic, is going crazy over something he doesn’t understand. I don’t see what the news is here.
How exactly would they spy on your computer? Malware? They’d have to find a vulnerability, then inject malicious software to install something that allows them to spy. Obviously they’re not doing this, so the only thing that they see is:
1) Your IP Address, which every single website you visit also sees, and which doesn’t really mean anything,
2) Anything you submit in the forms.
So where exactly is the problem? If you’re worried about the government having your information, then don’t give it to them. They’re not stealing anything, nor are they actually commandeering your computer.
That clip is not legitimate reporting it is a shameless stoking of the political tribalism that has taken the place of meaningful dialogue in America.
I do know this – Never watch Fox News Channel nor MSNBC – these to networks fabricate so many lies it is not worth even giving them any heed or benefit of a doubt. Glenn Beck is well a f*n idiot and most of his guests are too.
I was going to comment on how the idea that the government taking total control over your computer by clicking yes to a EULA is complete nonsense, or how myspace, facebook, and google collect more personal information about you than some of your closest relatives, or how kimberly whatsherface calling cash for clunkers “charitable” is downright wrong, but I think any person with half a brain (hell, an iota of sense) would already see through this crap that I’m saddened to see passes for news.
It’s Glenn Beck. Anyone who watched that clip is now dumber for having watched it.
I do know this – Never watch Fox News Channel nor MSNBC – these to networks fabricate so many lies it is not worth even giving them any heed or benefit of a doubt.
+1
The only cable news anchor worth the time of day is Andersen Cooper, nobody else on CNN, MSNBC, or Fox News is really a journalist. They’re partisan screaming heads.
Directly from cars.gov”
“What We Automatically Collect Online
We collect information about your visit that does not identify you personally. We can tell the computer, browser, and web service you are using. We also know the date, time, and pages you visit. Collecting this information helps us design the site to suit your needs. In the event of a known security or virus threat, we may collect information on the web content you view.
Other Information We May Collect
When you visit our website, we may request and collect the following categories of personal information from you:
* Contact information
* IDs and passwords
Why We Collect Information
Our principal purpose for collecting personal information online is to provide you with what you need and want, address security and virus concerns, and to ease the use of our website.
We will only use your information for the purposes you intended, to address security or virus threats, or for the purposes required under the law. See “Choices on How We Use the Information You Provide” to learn more.
We collect information to:
* Respond to your complaints
* Reply to your “feedback comments”
* Manage your access to restricted areas of the website
* Fulfill requests for reports and other similar information
* Register you for a member account
Sharing Your Information
We may share personally identifiable information you provide to us online with representatives within the Department of Transportation’s Operating Administrations and related entities, other federal government agencies, or other named representatives as needed to speed your request or transaction. In a government-wide effort to combat security and virus threats, we may share some information we collect automatically, such as IP address, with other federal government agencies.
Also, the law may require us to share collected information with authorized law enforcement, homeland security, and national security activities. See the Privacy Act of 1974 below.
Choices on How We Use the Information You Provide
Throughout our website, we will let you know whether the information we ask you to provide is voluntary or required. By providing personally identifiable information, you grant us consent to use this information, but only for the primary reason you are giving it. We will ask you to grant us consent before using your voluntarily provided information for any secondary purposes, other than those required under the law.”
And we all know the gov’t would never abuse our Rights, right?
And we all know the gov’t would never abuse our Rights, right?
No…that could never happen…
/sarcasm
oh noes! the gummint is going to take our cars! they can have my car when they take it from under my cold dead right foot! that’s why forcing you to register your car is a violation of the constitution! the third amendment, or something like that! it’s against the bible too, I believe.
Being a right wing pundit is not an easy job. There is so much competition from the likes of Limbaugh, Coulter, Hannity and countless other who are all competing for a slice of the lucrative right wing media market. Maybe there is so much noise (shouting mainly) that to be noticed you have to act like a complete foaming-at-the-mouth, unhinged lunatic. Enter Glenn Beck.
From the sounds of things, cars.gov is collecting all of the same controversial information that is gathered by pretty much every other website on earth that one might visit. (That would include http://www.foxnews.com, by the way.)
Unless you have good reason to suspect that the black helicopters are going to use your IP address to track you down and use a space laser to destroy your clunker before you can claim your rebate, I’m not sure that I see the problem here.
In other words, Glenn Beck is a moron, and it astounds me that someone that mentally deficient manages to hold down a job in an economy like this. (If Glenn Beck posts here, please let me know and I’ll edit the flame promptly. It won’t make him smarter, but I’d hate to hurt his feelings.)
VerbalKint: That shit is on every single federal website. It helps scare off the script kiddies (4chan wannabes) who think they’ll hack a federal computer.
Yes, contact information is required, such as when filling out a form. That’s how forms work.
Yes, contact information is required, such as when filling out a form.
That’s a bunch of BS. The government can use their special Vulcan Mind Meld (TM) technology to read your thoughts, they don’t need no stinkin’ computer to do that.
As a matter of fact, THEY KNOW WHAT I’M THINKING RIGHT NOW! I don’t even have a clunker to trade in, so now they’re gonna git me fer sure. (Maybe Glenn Beck will save me, he can use my IP address to find me! Save me, Glenn, save me!!!)
Cookies anyone?
Glenn Beck is a complete asshat that needs to be taken out the back and put out of his misery
asshat !!! LOL
This thread is going to end up with as many deleted comments as posted comments.
This is standard for any computer that does U.S. government work. Government systems by default have no expectation of privacy, and CARS is a government program. If you are vendor for the government and use ORCA, or a contractor and have registered to CCR, you have agreed to give up any right to privacy.
Unless there are laws ensuring your privacy (health care, education/FAFSA), you have no privacy on a government network.
Two months ago, many were bemoaning what they saw as the near certainty of the C4C program turning into a fraud fest. The NHTSA (poor chaps!) got tasked with setting up the program in record time, and seem to have put a good deal of thought and a lot of procedures and penalties in place to make gaming the C4C program somewhat difficult and unattractive.
Many were also predicting that the program would do little to stimulate sales. To quote: “All in all, don’t expect the proposed Cash4Clunkers legislation to create a big boost in U.S. new car sales.” https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/the-truth-about-cash-for-clunkers-2/
The combination of procedures with which to minimize fraud and the gangbusters popularity of the program has so far left the nay sayers with increasingly small straws to grab at in pushing forward the C4C IS A FAILURE story they have had in mind since the get go. Glenn Beck pulled a particularly poorly researched, poorly understood point out of his, um, ear.
I’ve spoken with two local car salesman in the past 24 hours at two different dealerships. The story is the same: “We have been working around the clock doing these deals”. Today I asked one of them if sixty days ago he could have believed that he was going to sell as many cars this week as he has. “No way, not even close!”
Hate the idea if you like, but so far C4C has in fact stimulated a lot of buying activity.
Heh, I like how at about 2:10 the news bunny says that you are making a charitable contribution to the CARS program.
Also like the bit about tracking your computer for ever.
That Glenn Beck is crazy … no doubt. That people watch him and scoff about how nutty he is … no doubt. That Glenn Beck likely gets paid a huge sum of money to be (or act) crazy so people can scoff about how nutty he is ….. I’m jealous. He’s a well paid clown, who probably lives in a really great house, drives a really great car, and his kids will likely be provided whatever level of education they choose to pursue. Sometimes I think “cable news”, whether it be CNN, MSNBC or FOX is about half news and half show business, and Glenn is quite a performer.
In 2000, a White House directive was sent barring the use of cookies by ALL Federal web sites. The cookie policy was issued by the Office of Management and Budget and remains intact today, though it will probably be lifted soon.
So in essence, Federal government website keep LESS track of your activities between sessions than do most other web sites.
I believe the technical term for Glen Beck’s condition is “bat-shit crazy.” Really, that guy is out of his mind.
John P :
August 1st, 2009 at 8:59 pm
That Glenn Beck is crazy … no doubt. That people watch him and scoff about how nutty he is … no doubt. That Glenn Beck likely gets paid a huge sum of money to be (or act) crazy so people can scoff about how nutty he is ….. I’m jealous. He’s a well paid clown, who probably lives in a really great house, drives a really great car, and his kids will likely be provided whatever level of education they choose to pursue. Sometimes I think “cable news”, whether it be CNN, MSNBC or FOX is about half news and half show business, and Glenn is quite a performer.
So what you’re saying is that he should really be on the E! network instead, which would be much more fitting for the hysterical bullshit he pedals.
Forgetting the potential for the consumer to be spied on, anyone think the federal government should have the authority to go through the books of your local new car dealer? After all, they must click the agreement to obtain the rebates for the consumers.
So what you’re saying is that he should really be on the E! network instead, which would be much more fitting for the hysterical bullshit he pedals.
I don’t think E! is very profitable but if they pay that jackass enough, why not? E!, Comedy Central, The Cartoon Network.
Getting “news” from television is an oxymoron.
My TV has been cold and dead for three years now.
Frank Zappa had it right thirty years ago.
I am gross and perverted
Im obsessed n deranged
I have existed for years
But very little had changed
I am the tool of the government
And industry too
For I am destined to rule
And regulate you
I may be vile and pernicious
But you cant look away
I make you think Im delicious
With the stuff that I say
I am the best you can get
Have you guessed me yet?
I am the slime oozin out
From your tv set
You will obey me while I lead you
And eat the garbage that I feed you
Until the day that we dont need you
Dont got for help…no one will heed you
Your mind is totally controlled
It has been stuffed into my mold
And you will do as you are told
Until the rights to you are sold
Thats right, folks..
Dont touch that dial
Well, I am the slime from your video
Oozin along on your livinroom floor
I am the slime from your video
Cant stop the slime, people, lookit me go
Glenn Beck definitely exhibits signs of a seriously mentally unstable person.
This is not a partisan comment, but an honest observation based on his behavior both on and off the air.
That Fox News gives him such a prominent slot in their lineup says some very disturbing things about the development and trend of cable news.
Once again, for and on behalf of our nation of Australia, I apologize to the US people for inflicting Rupert Murdoch on you.
In case you hadn’t noticed, Rupert’s idea of coverage is to set the US people against each other.
Glenn Beck, Travesty to Humanity and other fox’n’friends are just the sort of people he likes.
” … anyone think the federal government should have the authority to go through the books of your local new car dealer? ”
Yes, the feds need to audit the dealers to ensure they are doing what they are supposed to do in order to get the money. Most dealers are honest most of the time. Not all of the dealers are honest all of the time.
John P :
August 1st, 2009 at 10:44 pm
So what you’re saying is that he should really be on the E! network instead, which would be much more fitting for the hysterical bullshit he pedals.
I don’t think E! is very profitable but if they pay that jackass enough, why not? E!, Comedy Central, The Cartoon Network.
Definitely not Comedy Central. They have more news integrity than Fox does. Along with the most trusted man in news.
” … anyone think the federal government should have the authority to go through the books of your local new car dealer? ”
Absolutely.
Paranoia will destroy ya…or in Beck’s case, it’ll make you a TV star.
So what you’re saying is that he should really be on the E! network instead, which would be much more fitting for the hysterical bullshit he pedals.
It’s probably easier if Fox News would stop pretending they’re a news channel.
—
Once again, for and on behalf of our nation of Australia, I apologize to the US people for inflicting Rupert Murdoch on you.
In case you hadn’t noticed, Rupert’s idea of coverage is to set the US people against each other.
Don’t worry, he probably makes a lot of money off ruining the country and therefore fully embraces The American Way™.
BTW, isn’t it so rich that Fox News loves to point out other things are that “destroying America”?
Why isn’t Beck wearing his tin foil hat?
I fear that Glenn Beck’s paranoia will find purchase in an unstable person who will take their gun and ‘defend America.’
I don’t think he knows (or cares) about this possibility.
Once again, for and on behalf of our nation of Australia, I apologize to the US people for inflicting Rupert Murdoch on you.…
Thanks! You gave us Bovis as well which is making my life difficult, but that’s a topic for a different time.
Sad to say, many people, especially “Fox Faithful” like my folks will actually believe this crap. Faux New (and yes MSNBC who is the antithesis of Fox) are shameful in their horridly biased and downright wrong coverage. Opinions and slants belong in the editorial/ Op-Ed section. This crap belongs nowhere.
That Fox News gives him such a prominent slot in their lineup says some very disturbing things about the development and trend of cable news.
No, it says some very disturbing things about Fox News..
That’s funny. These people are definitely over the deep end.
If you’re that paranoid, create a virtual machine on a laptop, fake your mac address, use Google Chrome in “icognito mode”, chain together multiple anonymous proxies, and log in from public wifi – and don’t forget your tin-foil hat.
Or, just relax with the knowledge that there is so much information flowing out on the internet that they don’t have the resources to bother with you.
BTW, if the government was to actually try to monitor your Skype conversation from your PC via spyware,with most internet connections they’d cause the bandwidth to drop to the point that you’d get so many dropouts that the conversation would deteriorate to the point of being unintelligible.
Flame Fox and Glenn Beck all you like (at least until he posts here). But consider the fact that Beck is extremely popular. Rather than simply diss-missing Beck as a nutcase and his audience as a bunch of ill-educated, uninformed saps, look for what part of the populist’s message connects with millions of Americans. Is it worthy of consideration?
In this case, no. But . . .
Tin foil hat off, Beck is tapping into this country’s deep suspicion and mistrust of its own government. Having seen the way the feds nationalized GM and propped-up Chrysler and distorted the industry I love, having lived in the UK for 18 years, having a father who [barely] lived through fascist genocide, I’m inclined to agree with the principle that the government is the greatest enemy of freedom and prosperity.
Anyone who sounds the alarm on that score, without inciting violence, gets a second or third look from me. But then, that’s me.
RF: But consider the fact that Beck is extremely popular. Rather than simply diss-missing Beck as a nutcase and his audience as a bunch of ill-educated, uninformed saps, look for what part of the populist’s message connects with millions of Americans.
Popularity and credibility often have nothing to do with one another.
@ RF
It’s a mistake to give the lunatic fringe a forum.
Such people are a small step away from violent Fundamentalist zealots.
Flame Fox and Glenn Beck all you like (at least until he posts here). But consider the fact that Beck is extremely popular.
Yeah, and so was Charles Coughlin.
“Extremely popular” on the TV and “extremely popular” in having wide political support are too separate things, anyway. You need a relatively small and fringe but dedicated audience to be popular on Cable News. His audience is a drop in the bucket in electoral politics.
EDIT: Oh, and people like Beck only mistrust the government when Democrats are in charge, and when his marginal tax rates are going to go up. When Republicans ran things, he was one of the biggest apologists for things like the Patriot Act.
RF: “Rather than simply diss-missing Beck as a nutcase and his audience as a bunch of ill-educated, uninformed saps, look for what part of the populist’s message connects with millions of Americans. Is it worthy of consideration?”
Sure, we should consider him in the same light as the Know Nothings, KKK, lynch mobs, Birthers, and the various other worst elements of our society.
Beck appeals to ignorance, reductionism, and paranoia. Americans have had enough of that over the past few years – or have they?
It’s easy to single out Beck, who fronts as a populist but is in fact a shill for ant-progressive policies generally. But, is he really all that different from Hannity, Coulter, O’Reilly, Dobbs, and Limbaugh? I don’t think he is.
RF:
If you think the government shouldn’t run GM because it is extremely inefficient, why do you think the government is efficient enough to spy on our computers? If the gov’t can’t do anything right, how would they get this right? One would hope the people that do watch Glenn Beck are those looking for the Unintentional Comedy Factor. The Daily Show and The Onion can’t write better stuff. But there are people out there that don’t think it’s a joke and as shaker said, someone is going to take this as fact and do something crazy.
“But consider the fact that Beck is extremely popular.”
People Magazine has a circulation of about 3.5 million, roughly the same number as Beck’s viewership. The US has a population of just over 300 million people. Having one to two percent of the population as fans doesn’t really mean very much.
Good point BDB. The noted anti-semite Coughlin reached over 40 million people with his weekly radio show in the 1930s; at a time when the US’ population was about 122 million people. He was getting about one out of three Americans to tune in. No talking head today reaches more than one in ten (Limbaugh’s audience is reportedly anywhere from 13.5 to 30 million people). Coughlin combined themes of anti-bankerism, anti-internationalism, anti-communism and anti-semitism into a fire breathing rant. Today’s Fox News is a pale shadow of the ground Coughlin blazed decades ago.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Coughlin
The cars.gov website has 2 sections: the green site for consumers and the blue site for dealers. Glenn Beck was attempting to log in to the dealer site, where dealers go to send all the info for clunker transactions. A regular consumer would never go there anyway.
John Horner–
Minus the anti-semitism, anyway. You just can’t do that anymore after the holocaust, at least in the west. illegal immigrants and/or Muslims are now the stand-ins for Jews. The anti-banker and anti-internationalist stuff is still there, though.
Let’s go back 6 years – How did Faux News respond to one of the largest invasions of US citizens privacy (with the creating / pass of: Dept Homeland Security, Patriot act). Here you can make a proven argument that opens up spying on US citizens. Did Glen’s predecessor’s highly criticize this greater invasion? Not really – they actually praised it. Just one major fault where Faux news reports what befits their party and not the truth.
I heard Obama had a Bud Light and was criticized by Faux News b/c Bud was bought by InBev (which is from Belgium – which Faux news got wrong at first). Even though that beer came from St. Louis.
Use an old computer, wipe the hard drive after wards, problem avoided.
I agree there is paranoia over the EULA (Glenn Beck isn’t the only one talking about it) but in the end it’s an entirely avoidable situation.
Start getting used to the monitoring if you’re not already. Anything you say on line is fair game to corporations and government today.
It’s all going to come to a boil soon enough.
I agree BDB. Anti-semitism, at least the obvious kind, has been replaced by anti-muslim rants.
Glenn Beck is pretty much single handily killing the Republican Party (ok Rush is helping) People want to belong to political parties that are run by smart articulate people who have some chance of winning…
Mr. Farago, RE this excerpt from your follow up entry . . .
“I’m inclined to agree with the principle that the government is the greatest enemy of freedom and prosperity.”
I agree with that, but on the basis of my perception that currently, the US government is composed of plutocrats, mega corporations, big money interests that transcend US nationality and borders, and quite many are literally outlaws.
Government can be the greatest guarantor and guardian (the only one in fact!)of freedom and prosperity if done differently (and correctly in my view). If there are no instituted guarantees of freedoms, how can there be any at all? There are no freedoms in anarchy.
Done according to the principles and guidelines clearly written in the Declaration of Independence, and the Constitution, the government should indeed be of, by and for the people, and the us vs them mentality that you are espousing would have no relevance whatsoever. We the People should (and can be) the government. However We the People are lazy and willfully ignorant sheep, and nations of sheep gives rise to governments of wolves.
ttacgreg,
nice post.
I believe that things really started to get screwed up when the SCOTUS declared that corporations had the same rights as citizens. We do not have the money to compete with them, so they do nothing but gain more and more influence over the government. One simple change in the law would bring this power back to our side, but can you imagine what companies would spend to stop that from happening? Just look at all the money that is being showered on the Blue Dog democrats to keep their votes away from a public healthcare option.
RF,
In this case, the enemy of your enemy is not your friend.
Beck only hates on the government because it’s more profitable than hating on you or me.
I don’t fear the government. I fear bad people — whether they’re in the government or on Fox News or whatever.
A government that wants some of my (paltry) money for social services gets a debate. A government that spies on me, whether through a C.A.R.S. website (though I think it’s pretty clear that nothing was going on here) or via wiretapping makes me relieved we have decisions like District of Columbia v. Heller on the books.
Glenn Beck is pretty much single handily killing the Republican Party (ok Rush is helping) People want to belong to political parties that are run by smart articulate people who have some chance of winning…
Thus proving Bill Maher’s assertion that America is a stupid country. People base their politics and voting on wanting to be on the “winning” side instead of on what makes sense for the country.
Glenn Beck may be crazy (probably), but that doesn’t mean he is wrong for encouraging his viewers to question what our government is doing. Our government is doing so many things that seem wrong on their face and make no sense either short term or long term, it does make you wonder how these decisions are being made when they seem so obviously misguided.
ruckover: I agree with you that the Supreme Court’s decision granting corporations the same rights as actual flesh and blood people is a big part of the problem. The actual legal background of that issue is rather contorted, but Wikipedia has a good article on it: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corporate_personhood_debate
Another supreme court decision ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marquette_Nat._Bank_of_Minneapolis_v._First_of_Omaha_Service_Corp. ) led in part to the debt crisis when the court neutered the ability of states to set rules with regard to any credit card account or other banking products sold in their state if those products originated in another state. Shazam, Bank of America moves the nominal headquarters of its credit card division to oh so banker friendly Delaware and suddenly it can have its way with California customers and California’s government can do nothing about it.
Supreme Court “activism” often has directly benefited large corporate interests.
If you know the history of Father Couglin, you also know that Roosevelt conspired with the Kennedy family to get him off of the air. Political discourse was not allowed under “The New Deal”.
I can see the current administration doing that as well, as soon as they take over the health care industry, and finish off our manufacturing base with the Cap and Trade.
shaker :
August 2nd, 2009 at 9:40 am
I fear that Glenn Beck’s paranoia will find purchase in an unstable person who will take their gun and ‘defend America.’
I don’t think he knows (or cares) about this possibility.
What are you talking about. This has already happened. Dr Tiller.
In this case, no. But . . .
Tin foil hat off, Beck is tapping into this country’s deep suspicion and mistrust of its own government.
Oh please. If of course by “this country” you mean “the misguided, ditto head, minority who are probably racist irrational thinking plebs who can’t think for themselves”.
Having seen the way the feds nationalized GM and propped-up Chrysler and distorted the industry I love, having lived in the UK for 18 years, having a father who [barely] lived through fascist genocide, I’m inclined to agree with the principle that the government is the greatest enemy of freedom and prosperity.
Some governments, yes, but i think that statement is more applicable to the previous administration than the current one.
dwford, your comment of “People base their politics and voting on wanting to be on the ‘winning’ side instead of on what makes sense for the country.” is quite likely one of the most insightful things I’ve read in a long, long time. May I quote you?
If you know the history of Father Couglin, you also know that Roosevelt conspired with the Kennedy family to get him off of the air.
Well, he made it a lot easier by openly supporting the Axis Powers.
I can’t quite imagine Limbaugh or Beck going so far overboard in their hate for the President that they start openly siding with Al Qaeda or the Chinese or something.
taxman100: I see that Couglin still has his fans to this day. Advocating for the Nazis and Mussolini had much to do with FDR turning against him. Oddly enough, Couglin supported FDR’s election before turning against him as The New Deal era unfolded.
The intellectual dissonance of being for “the little guy” (populism) while at the same time being “against big government” is an un-solvable riddle. The only force powerful enough to constrain and discipline large companies is a robust government; which government in turn must be accountable to its voters. This is why, of course, large companies work so hard to tilt the government in their favor. The only thing which constrains politicians from going all-in for the monied individuals and companies is that they somehow have to get enough people to vote for them to stay in office. Much energy is expended by lobbyists and advertisers to convince the average person that the interests of those with the money are the same as the interests of the masses. Wedge politics based on a few hot button social issues (abortion, gay marriage and immigration feature prominently) have been used very effectively in the past to get Joe Six Pack to actually vote contrary to his personal financial interests. This has led us to a place where certain Senators actually go on the record praising America’s health insurance companies, even though relatively few Americans think the health insurance companies do a good job at a fair price.
The Glen Becks of this world are but a piece of the propaganda machine designed to align the votes of 50.1% of the people with the desire for ever more wealth and power for those at the top. Then you have religious power groups like The Family which throw a heavy dose of theocracy and self-aggrandizement into the mix as well. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Family_%28Christian_political_organization%29
Glenn Beck may be crazy (probably), but that doesn’t mean he is wrong for encouraging his viewers to question what our government is doing. Our government is doing so many things that seem wrong on their face and make no sense either short term or long term, it does make you wonder how these decisions are being made when they seem so obviously misguided.
Sure, it’s good to question if our government is fulfilling their mandate to work FOR us. But the kind of questions fox news likes to ask are load ones designed to lead the viewer to their agenda through innuendo.
Dammit, beaten by John Horner to the point. This is a very good way to put it:
The only force powerful enough to constrain and discipline large companies is a robust government; which government in turn must be accountable to its voters. This is why, of course, large companies work so hard to tilt the government in their favor. The only thing which constrains politicians from going all-in for the monied individuals and companies is that they somehow have to get enough people to vote for them to stay in office.
This also why Fox News is MUCH MUCH worse than MSNBC in any objective sense despite both being biased. They are literally undermining the basis for effective democracy by misleading the interests of citizens away from good governance.
Just look their message and strategy: Wanna make a lot of money (for us)? Get that government monkey off your back!, We’ll protect you from the mean old terrorists (those brown people giving you the evil eye)! Just sign away civil rights to us!, Don’t want old people to be rounded up and killed? Obstruct communist health care!, etc
I must admit that the part about “The govenment is trying to watch every move we make, and you can’t trust them!” was an ironic contrast to not so many years ago when the US PATRIOT Act was passed and the commentators on the very same network said, “It’s for the security of our country, and if you’re not doing anything wrong, you have nothing to worry about!”
Used to listen to FoxNews all the time, used to enjoy it, but it’s gotten too extreme, too negative and too whiney for my taste. Sure, the U.S. is far from perfect – and people do need to speak up for what’s right – but I refuse to believe that it’s the hell-hole of a banana republic that these people say it’s turning into.
Wow, seems Glen Beck has hit a raw nerve in lotsa people out there. My take on all this is this:
The White House occupant and the individuals that compromise the US Congress+the culture of this nation=this, if Glenn Beck is as crazy, looney, etc. as folks on here say he is, then what does that say about us and our government.
Are we actually on track with reality. I hear consistent attacking of Glenn Beck on here (I am not a supporter or any such for this guy), but if he is crazy just because he has proven decisively something ‘wicked this way comes’ from our rapidly evolving Nazi style government.
I must be missing something in this discussion and Mr. Beck’s presentation of absolute fact as presented, unless…of course his ‘proof’ is fabricated by other than the agency he says/shows presented his evidence.
What appalls me most is the anger and lack of respect for another human being who simply presents what he finds.
“What appalls me most is the anger and lack of respect for another human being who simply presents what he finds.”
Not long ago Beck proclaimed Obama to be a racist who hates white people and/or “white culture”. That isn’t just a matter of someone who “presents what he finds.” Beck is a commentator, not a reporter. Luckily he doesn’t represent himself as a reporter. Unfortunately, many people who watch cable news channels make no distinction in their minds between straight up reporting and bias filled commentary. In traditional newspapers the commentary is supposed to be limited to the editorials page where everyone knows they are reading opinion. On television, and online, only the most astute reader/viewer makes that distinction.
http://www.politico.com/blogs/michaelcalderone/0709/Foxs_Beck_Obama_is_a_racist.html
As far as the government website for C.A.R.S. goes, Beck clearly warned everyone watching not to log into the website; because it was going to take control of their computer and personal information. He slipped in the point that this agreement only actually applied to dealer’s computers when they logged in to do transactions, but then completely glossed over that salient fact with repeated warnings that people SHOULD NOT DO THIS AT HOME!!!!! Beck goes way, way beyond the “presentation of absolute fact”.
I must be missing something in this discussion and Mr. Beck’s presentation of absolute fact as presented, unless…of course his ‘proof’ is fabricated by other than the agency he says/shows presented his evidence.
The reality is that Beck and his ilk don’t give a shit about the “facts”. They are on a mission to attack the “government” at all cost, including blatant deception of the public.
The larger question to ask is why a person like this is given a nationwide TV show. It’s somewhat interesting to figure whether the profit is only from advertising for the show or something more systematic.
The larger question to ask is why a person like this is given a nationwide TV show. It’s somewhat interesting to figure whether the profit is only from advertising for the show or something more systematic.
In a word: Ratings
Don Henley said it best. If you haven’t a clue as to what that reference means, listen very carefully to his 1982 song, “Dirty Laundry.”
Life imitates art.
I’m confused, once again.
RF says “I’m inclined to agree with the principle that the government is the greatest enemy of freedom and prosperity.”.
Does that mean the governments that fought Nazism were the greatest enemies of freedom too?
I need to get in the tin foil hat selling business. Seems there are plenty of potential customers on both sides…
A Japanese family that spent the war in an internment camp might like to argue the point.
Or the businesses who refused to abide by FDR’s restrictions on trade.
Or the magazines denied postal service for voicing dissent.
My father was saved by America’s intervention in WWII, but there’s no denying that freedom took a HUGE hit in the states during the war.
Ends justify the means? That’s always the argument, isn’t it?
I must be missing something in this discussion and Mr. Beck’s presentation of absolute fact as presented
You certainly are missing something. Beck is making an argument that only a computer-illiterate could accept.
All websites see the IP addresses of their users. That includes the website that you are reading right now. It also includes the website of Fox News, Beck’s employer.
If anything, the Fox News website would be far worse at invading your privacy. Visit that site, and unless you block the cookies, Mr. Beck’s friends will drop all kinds of stuff onto your computer that is meant to allow them and their advertisers to see what else you’re doing online. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTTP_cookie#Privacy_and_third-party_cookies
So no, not only is Beck’s argument built on lies (or utter stupidity, you be the judge), but it also includes a substantial dose of hypocrisy, given that his employer will gather far more information about your usage habits than would anyone who visits the cash for clunkers site.
As far as I can tell, http://www.cars.gov does not add cookies to your browser, whereas http://www.foxnews.com and pretty much every other News Corp. website will, unless you proactively block them. Why isn’t Beck warning you about Rupert Murdoch’s invasion of your privacy?
Again, it is against White House and OMB policy for Federal Government websites to use multi session cookies.
Damn shame the conservative party has to deal with clowns like this. If only conservatives could get rid of the religious right and the “others” and focus on things that really matter.
@ BDB
I would bet you your favorite beer that Rush voted for Obama. Remember these guys are entertainers nothing more nothing usually a lot less. Viagra or oxycotin anyone?
My father was saved by America’s intervention in WWII, but there’s no denying that freedom took a HUGE hit in the states during the war.
Ends justify the means? That’s always the argument, isn’t it?
Yup,
See Patriot Act..
So it is ok for the government to take ownership of a dealers computer? That is want there dealer notice says.
My recommendation to dealers.
1) Use a single dedicated computer for dealing with cars.gov, that is not part of a workgroup and is not sharing files with another computer.
2) After the program expires, back up pertinent files, and then reformat the drive, and reinstall the OS, and any applications on it.
Some problems with Cash for Clunkers
1) Cars traded in for CfC can not be resold, and worse, engines must be destroyed. The cars then shredded and scrapped.
2) Not being able to resell the vehicles will cause all used cars to increase in price, and also increase the cost of used auto parts.
3) States will lose the potential sales tax from these used vehicles, loss of sales tax from used auto parts.
4) Less available used car parts may mean less jobs at auto salvage sites.
5) Tax payer subsidy for cars, why not a tax reduction for all, if this works good, guess how much a tax cut would do.
Robert Farago :
Ends justify the means? That’s always the argument, isn’t it?
Freedom always takes a hit during war time. Just ask Dick Cheney, who said in a recent interview: “things like the Terror Surveillance Program and to have a robust interrogation program on detainees. Those are the acts you take when you feel you’re at war and that the very existence of the nation is threatened.”
I am all for people expressing their political views, so if that is a true libertarian “small government” attitude, then I have respect for that.
What I don’t respect is hypocrisy.
The people who had tea parties were nowhere to be seen when our phones were being tapped without warrants (And they still are; thanks for not coming through on that campaign promise, President Obama).
Robert, you refer to Japanese internment camps — where are the small government people to protest the American citizens being held without habeus corpus in Guantanamo?
Cheney and Bush even considered using American troops on American soil. Glenn Beck is having a heart attack about tax increases that haven’t happened yet. Money won’t do me any good if the private presidential militia is knocking down my door.
A government that is business friendly is not necessarily one that respects other freedoms. See the Bush admin, which was great for businesses (unless you were sitting across the table rom Hank Paulson).
Some problems with Cash for Clunkers
1) Cars traded in for CfC can not be resold, and worse, engines must be destroyed. The cars then shredded and scrapped.
2) Not being able to resell the vehicles will cause all used cars to increase in price, and also increase the cost of used auto parts.
3) States will lose the potential sales tax from these used vehicles, loss of sales tax from used auto parts.
4) Less available used car parts may mean less jobs at auto salvage sites.
5) Tax payer subsidy for cars, why not a tax reduction for all, if this works good, guess how much a tax cut would do.
1) Wrong, the car bodies are NOT being shredded they are being “sold” (often given to salvage yards)
2) Partly right Partly wrong… Used Cars that get 25 MPG or better are not really being affected… This mostly will be hitting Gas Guzzlers that noone wanted anyway…
3) Wrong.. Not even close, which would you rather have sales tax on a 20,000 new car or a 3,000 used one.
4) Oh this couldn’t be MORE wrong… The only place busier then new car showrooms are the salvage yards… they are awash in car parts…
5) Tax Cuts! Are we going to continue flog this dead horse… Tax Cuts got us into this mess in the first place.
According to Glen Beck the U.S. Government has announced that they are changing the disclaimer for logging on by dealers. Looks like Glen Beck was onto something.
The U.S. Government has announced that they are changing the disclaimer for logging on by dealers.
The “warning” was probably the standard one they put on all gov systems, which the CARS internal site was likely base off of.
–
Looks like Glen Beck was onto something.
Yes, he was lying about what site he was logging into, and then BS fear mongering about computer stuff he clearly doesn’t understand himself (nor his co-presenter). “Take over your computer” “with malware”. Seriously? With a supervirus like in the movies?
Put another way, he’s literally relying on the fact that his listeners are morons who won’t ever figure out how technology works.
Why is there so much name calling in these posts (“morons”, “hypocrisy”..)? It would more useful if people would discuss the merits of an issue without assuming that someone who disagrees with them is a hypocrite or a moron. Someone who watches Beck is not necessarily a moron. Someone who supported the Patriot Act, but has problems with the government’s disclaimer being discussed here is not necessarily being hypocritical. Such name calling does not contribute to the discussion.
Someone who watches Beck is not necessarily a moron.
The more that I see of the guy, the more trouble that I have believing that.
The guy is obviously preying upon the computer illiteracy of his audience, which apparently doesn’t seem to know that the federal government is collecting **less** information about them than pretty much every other website that they may look at, including the Fox News website.
Either Beck is insulting the intelligence of his viewers or else he is himself a moron who knows so little about the internet that he doesn’t realize how much information his own employer attempts to gather about internet users. He really has no facts to support his case, and his factual errors (lies?) have been described here in sufficient detail that there is little more to discuss.
The issue isn’t whether he’s wrong — he is — but whether he knows it or is lying. At this juncture, I could believe either answer.
Someone who watches Beck is not necessarily a moron.
Sure, but those people are doing it for the lulz.
There is nothing to be suspicious of this web site. At all. All they are doing is setting up a NAC (network access control) for connectivity to it. You HAVE to be a dealer to use the site so that eliminates the general public (ol’ Glenn forgot to mention that, didn’t he?).
Now, the purpose of the NAC for those that are not aware is to verify that the computer connecting has anti-virus, firewall, and other protective measures in place. This is standard for government connectivity and many employers. My last employer interrogated any employee’s (company provided)computer to verify that it had the latest security updates and anti-virus patterns applied. If not you were immediately disconnected from the network and the security department would contact you to make sure your computer was brought back into compliance before being allowed to connect to the network again.
Trust me when I say you do not want an infected machine on the network – it presents too many infection an security breach vectors to deal with, especially with a network the size of the governments (and who knows how well that is managed).
Well…seems that flaming, verbal attacks unrelated to topic and a general encroaching atmosphere of intolerance, anger is not my way. I am out of my league. I come on here and present what I see, think and believe and am attacked as a moron, etc. for it and other condescending, etc.,etc.
Man this was about autos I thought and freedom in a positive, challenging, respecting atmosphere to present one’s thoughts, etc.
This is no longer the case.
Good day and God bless
I go away, never to return.