Glenn Beck's Folly

Anyone familiar with Fox News should know who Glenn Beck is. He used to be on CNN, but fits in much better in his current environment. He's started this thing called The 912 Project. His goal is to return us to the America we became on 9/12, the day after the terrorist attacks. I'd prefer to go to 9/10, but regardless. If you want to know what it's all about, go to www.the912project.com.

As part of their "mission statement," they outline certain principles and values that they hold dear. The values are meaningless happy-words that no one could really argue with. "Honesty." Yeah, ok, I can get behind that, but what does if really mean? Nothing. So let's look at the 9 Principles and see if they have any merit.

1. America Is Good.

Well, maybe. I don't really think a country can be inherently good or bad. The people running it certainly can. I think for the last 8 years we were certainly not "good." We've been taken over by corporate interests that infect every aspect of government. I do, however, think that we can be good again!


2. I believe in God and He is the Center of my Life.

I don't. If you have to go with all nine, I guess this would be the deal-breaker for me. I know that the last President did, and used that faith to make major decisions in lieu of, say, research. This is VERY dangerous.

3. I must always try to be a more honest person than I was yesterday.

Can't argue with that. Then again, if you're completely honest on Monday, there's not much room for improvement. Also, coming from someone on Fox News, this is hilarious.

4. The family is sacred. My spouse and I are the ultimate authority, not the government.

Well, it depends. If you and your spouse are Christian Scientists who deny insulin to their daughter so that she dies? Yeah, the State should step in at that point.

5. If you break the law you pay the penalty. Justice is blind and no one is above it.

I agree.

6. I have a right to life, liberty and pursuit of happiness, but there is no guarantee of equal results.

No guarantee of equal results, but there should certainly be equal opportunity. My ability to pursue happiness should not be hampered by others deciding I don't deserve to be happy by reason of my race, sexual preference, or economic standing. My ability to make a living shouldn't be hampered by some executive deciding he needs to lay some workers off so his wife can continue getting weekly spa treatments.

7. I work hard for what I have and I will share it with who I want to. Government cannot force me to be charitable.

Slippery slope, this. This is the kind of Libertarian attitude that leads to CEO's getting huge bonuses while kids starve in this country. This is what leads to poverty. Sure, people should work for what they get. But some can't. Let's not leave them to die.

8. It is not un-American for me to disagree with authority or to share my personal opinion.

I agree. Too bad the Bush administration didn't see it this way. Oh, and the talking heads on TV that accused the people questioning Bush's policies of being unpatriotic? Evil. One of the people that did this kind of thing? Glenn Beck.

9. The government works for me. I do not answer to them, they answer to me.

Well, that would be true in a Democracy. But we live in a Republic. We elect officials to make decisions for us. Then, if we don't like how they do, we vote them out. Like in November.

So, no, I can't support your project, Glenn. No matter how much you cry about it on your show.