Glenn Beck Is a Modern Day William Graham Sumner

One of the most common criticisms of those who think government should be reduced to the status of mere umpirage and public defender is that good honest people will fall through the cracks in a world of laissez-faire economics. Someone of the same mold as Glenn Beck would surely claim that in the place of government, “Faith, Hope, and Charity” would take care of the rest. This point of view may work in an imaginary original condition where everyone has equal access to resources, but it doesn’t make much sense in today’s modern context of globalism and market capitalism.

Nevertheless, this view is still popular, and sadly, it may even be experiencing an uptick in recent months. The simple truth is that this view is an apathetic and non-compassionate point of view that has its root in the idea that bad things happen to those who deserve it. From that root sentiment comes the egotistical ideas that “I never will and never have needed help” and that “to help someone justifies the vice that put them there.” Read more »

Breaking Down Beck: 9/12 Principles, Part 2

Before we conclude our overview of Glenn Beck’s 9/12 Principles, the first half of which we covered in Part 1, let’s take a quick look at 2009′s Misinformer of the Year courtesy Media Matters.

Principles 6-9 after the jump. Read more »

Breaking Down Beck: 9/12 Principles, Part 1

In his great mission statement to save the United States, Glenn Beck says:

This is a non-political movement. The 9-12 Project is designed to bring us all back to the place we were on September 12, 2001. The day after America was attacked we were not obsessed with Red States, Blue States or political parties. We were united as Americans, standing together to protect the greatest nation ever created.

Beck goes on to say:

At the origin of America, our Founding Fathers built this country on 28 powerful principles. These principles were culled from all over the world and from centuries of great thinkers. We have distilled the original 28 down to the 9 basic principles.

Do these principles live up to this hype? They may look alright on a shirt, but to be honest, this pancake doesn’t have enough syrup. Read more »