Anti-Science Syndrome (ASS) sufferer Hater of Liberal Economics (HOLE) Glenn Beck evidently envisions himself as the rightful successor of one of the greatest names in political theory and one of the Founding Fathers of the United States with his publication of Glenn Beck’s Common Sense: The Case Against an Out-of-Control Government inspired by Thomas Paine. Putting aside the arrogance of this association, we should wonder whether the hateful Beck is turning over a new, Kumbaya leaf.
Consider the following exchange in a Washington Post online “chate” with Beck.
Eugene, Ore.: Mr. Beck, over the last 20 years we have seen deregulated free market capitalism make a mess of the energy market (Enron), the financial markets, and the planet — unmanaged natural resource harvest, global species loss, industrial toxins in our water, all at the cost of the common man or woman. Isn’t regulation really a common sense approach to containing human greed?
Glenn Beck: No. Self-regulation is the common sense approach to regulating greed. What our founders called indispensable, the application of the laws of nature’s God. And we have totally abandoned those things. Corporations need to know that by screwing the other guy, be it the janitor or another company, is bad long-term for the company. Polluting the rivers and skies to make a tire cheaper is ultimately bad for the company.
According to Glenn Beck, it seems, there is zero reason for government regulation and government oversight since, well, we should all get along and do the right thing.
With much more hypocrisy, almost certainly, Beck is calling for the unbridled market to the answer to all environmental and social challenges. Considering individuals’ and business readiness to dump pollutants into the commons (whether a tire into the woods, old oil down a storm drain, or 100,000 tons of CO2 out a smokestack each year), it is hard to see how even an ASS-suffering HOLE like Glenn “Kumbaya” Beck can take his own words seriously.
As a note, here is the question that I provided into the Post “Chat” which remained unanswered.
“Common Sense” would seem to suggest that, in this highly complicated world, we understand how to rely on expertise and knowledge. I will trust a doctor more than drug store clerk to diagnose a disease. I will trust an oncologist more than podiatrist to deal with cancer.
Common sense … Why do you continue your rages against the scientific method and the very strong scientific basis for human contributions driving climate change? And, even putting a warming planet aside, what about Ocean Acidification?
And, considering common sense, why haven’t you seized the opportunities of a “no regrets” strategy to reduce our oil imports, improve the health of Americans through reduced pollution, improve our security through a more diverse and resilient energy supply, and lower the impacts of CO2 on a warming planet and ocean acidification?
Common sense would say listen to people who actually know what they’re talking about … no?
1 response so far ↓
1 David Charles // Jun 16, 2009 at 10:20 am
I think this is the first thing I’ve seen that gets to the very heart of why Glenn Back must be 100% full of shit. His response to the question about his book has nothing to do with common sense. He must know that corporations exist to make money for their shareholders and will never regulate themselves. I’ve watched his show more than I care to admit and frequently states ideas that are actually true, essentially, “They are trying to divide us.” Yes, they are! Wealthy corporations who completely run the Republican party and keep the Democratic Party in check use issues like abortion and gay marriage to drive a wedge between two groups of people they are trying to oppress. In Glenn’s world however, corporations are untouchable. This is why I don’t think he’s quite as dumb as he comes off. He must know this. I think after all is said and done, he foremost a shrewd entertainer. He keeps his viewers by appealing to their most base instancts (paranoia, bigotry, racist) and on the other hand, he cowers to the corporations that write his paycheck. In essence, he gets a sense that he’s doing everything he can to ruin our country, but he doesn’t care as long as he gets his fame and fortune.