I had a very interesting exchange last night on Twitter with an ardent Glenn Beck follower. It offers a very interesting - and disturbing - window into what is very probably quite typical among Beck followers.
More after the jump.
My point is not at all to "expose" or shame the person, so I'll avoid naming names, although this documenting link will unavoidably contain that information. I also took screen captures.
While revealing a great many things about Beck followers, to me the exchanges more than anything show the crisis of K-12 education, and inadequate access to higher education, in the U.S.
The Twitter user states he is "manager of a pawn company". He states he is from "The Great Big O" (whatever that means), and, "I believe in conservative core values and God."
I've done my best to get the exchanges in proper order.
YEA!!! GB is on!! Let the exposing begin!
@###### With all GB's talk that Nat HC is not n the Constitution, I've been wondering. Where in the Constitution is capitalism?
@BooksMoore Beck doesn't say HC isn't in the constitution. He points out how unconstitutional this admin. Is in forcing it on America.
@###### Majority rule, minority rights. That's democracy. Law by definition is force. And, where is capitalism in the Constitution?
@BooksMoore the constitution allows capitolism based on our freedoms and liberties. This admin. Is stripping that away hence: uncnstutnl!
@###### the constitution allows national HC based on our freedoms and liberties, so we can all enjoy them.
@BooksMoore The constitution allows the people to make that choice, to suceed=capitolism. I am smart, I make myself rich it is my doing.
@BooksMoore it is not my obligation to give all my success to Gov't. I choose when to be charitable, not the Gov't.
@###### A person uninsurable b/c of pre-existing condition cannot enjoy the freedom of the Const. Hence gov is to promote the common good.
@###### If I am unisurable b/c of preexisting condition, my citizenship in a Const Rep should guarantee my right to access its liberty.
@###### It's called being part of a nation.
@BooksMoore Agreed reform is needed to insure all, but not a gov't run program that dictates every aspect of your life and BK's Americans. (Editor note: I'm not sure what "BK's Americans" means)
@BooksMoore Obama's health reform would have worked a lot better if he was honest and not advised by a bunch of Clowns! He is EXPOSED dude!
@###### Insure all how? In hundreds of pools where capitalists skim profits, or in one large pool where mere costs are taken out?
@BooksMoore The gov't need uphold our freedoms and liberties, not take them from us to drive their socialistic agendas! It is MY choice! MINE
@###### The only thing Nat HC will take away from you is uncertainty about your ability to access liberty. Lose your job and see.
@###### Where in the Constitution is health care tied to employment?
@###### Or ability to pay?
@BooksMoore That's like saying God has to intervene and bless you because you are his son and a part of earth.
@BooksMoore God cannot interfear because there must be consequences of all actions. There must be free will.
@###### Christ's words and James 5:14-16 debunks that sickness can be assumed a result of sin. It was the Pharisees who believed that.
@BooksMoore it's unfortunate regarding pre-existing conditions and maybe there is a way that can be worked out. But it must be done freely!
@BooksMoore True. If I ever lost my job I would be screwed. BUT it sure is a lot better having Freedom and liberty than taken from me!
@###### There is no freedom taken from you but as part of a Social Contract your country guarantees right to liberties and life.
@###### it must be done freely! | Such as a nations citizens agreeing to all go into one pool so all are covered, period.
@###### In the UK and Canada, for example, the government of the people made this decision. How is that infringement? It is not.
@BooksMoore how is that infringement? 56% of Americans obviouself disapprove and they threaten to nuke it thru congress. How is that Americn
@###### If 56% it is because they are grossly deluded about the actual facts.
@BooksMoore I will take my chances. I am smart, I would find a way. My freedom and liberty would allow ME to do that to myself!
@BooksMoore With polititions in charge they would dictate what THEY think is best for me and that is exempting my freedoms! I REFUSE that!
@###### My freedom and liberty would allow ME to do that to myself! | You just sed donor $$ would fill gap, so that is not all you.
@###### Get cancer and you'll die in the gap while your neighbors do bake sales.
@BooksMoore I do believe in the constitution. Dude, they work for me! I do not work for them and that is the bottom line.
@###### Politicians are of the people and by the people Constitutionally. I thought you believed in the Constitution.
@BooksMoore That very well may be but you cannot blame me with our President obviousely surrounding himself with communists and radicals.
@###### You are of the sort who, when pressed, has scant faith in the American system of government.
@###### with communists and radicals. | Sounds like you've caught the Manicheaean Paranoia bug from Beck.
@BooksMoore going back to your cancer example: you are ok with the gov't telling you to wait 2 yrs for treatment, or being refused meds?
@###### gov't telling you to wait 2 yrs for treatment, or being refused meds? | Credible evidence, please....
@###### the gov't telling you to wait 2 yrs for treatment, or being refused meds | And this would be OUR gov. We'd not stand for that.
@BooksMoore UK, Canada obviousely have it wrong. We should not make the same mistakes they have. We can be better.
@###### Obviously have it wrong? I fail to see them clamoring for a private takeover of health care.
@BooksMoore You are absolutely RIGHT! I do not have faith the US gov can work! But I am American and if you call me paranoid then sorry 4 U
@###### You are absolutely RIGHT! I do not have faith the US gov can work! | Then you have no faith in the US system of government n kind.
@BooksMoore All the evidence is in Canada and the UK. It's been talked about since Obama announced his agenda.
@###### All the evidence is in Canada and the UK. | Show me the evidence where they are clamoring to repeal their systems.
@BooksMoore what's deluded about the facts? It's more than 1 poll man. It's out there. It's fact.
@###### You're saying you have facts about your assertions. I want links. I fail to see UK & Canada clamoring to repeal their systems.
@###### I do not have faith the US gov can work! | And you have faith you can change Big Insurance who is NOT accountable to you?
@BooksMoore I have much more faith in private insurance then the current power in Gov't. This gov't demands rights for terrorists. A JOKE!
@BooksMoore WRONG! I have faith in my constitution but not at the powers in control right now who strip pieces off ot it every so often.
@######: You only say that. You have no faith that US gov can work well, nor Beck. Ur worldview is Manicheaean Paranoia & not American.
@###### You tweet beginning with "WRONG! " is utterly self-contradictory & reveals a basic failure to understand U.S. gov system.
@BooksMoore And yes we would not stand for that but when it's totally been taken over by them what choice would you have then?
@###### when it's totally been taken over | Thus your basic non-faith in US gov system but in Maniceaen Paranoia.
@BooksMoore what? Do your own research. I'm not your own personal encyclopedia. It's a known fact that the UK and Canada suck.
@###### A known fact according to who?
@BooksMoore Show me the evidence they are not clamoring to repeal their systems. What is it they will do so much better?
@###### What is it they will do so much better? | Cover everyone, period, gain higher health outcomes, ensure all can access liberty.
@BooksMoore According to the women in the UK who have breast cancer and were refused life saving drugs.
@BooksMoore according to the mother in Canada who had to give birth on a sidewalk bcuz they refused to send an Ambulance.
@BooksMoore And btw it is not contradictory. It is perfectly plausable and not hard to understand.
@BooksMoore but your missing the point. Those women could go out and freely buy the drugs in a private system.
@###### Those [UK] women could go out and freely buy the drugs in a private system. | U.K. also has Pay 4 Svc private ins and & hospitals
@###### Individual incidents are not relevant to drawing conclusions about a system.
@###### Since I know women denied cancer drugs by their US insurance and b/c of lack of it, and you know such in the UK, it means nothing.
@BooksMoore Individual incidents are all we have to go on. What other evidence is there to look at? Facts lieing politicians tell us?
@###### Individual incidents are all we have to go on. | No, its that you lack basic knowledge of how social scientific research is done.
@###### How was college for you?
@BooksMoore If I'm such an idiot and can't understand the US gov system then why are you wasting your time tweeting me?
@###### Idiocy and undereducation are very different. In college, I learned a great deal about U.S. gov. Too bad Beck lacks college edu.
@BooksMoore It is too bad but he is very smart. No college education needed to expose the truth friend.
@BooksMoore You say you're an educator and scholar. Do you teach?
@BooksMoore Where's praise from ppl in the UK and Canada telling of how wonderful the healthcare is there? I'm willing to listen.
@######: Where's praise from ppl in the UK and Canada telling of how wonderful the healthcare is there? | Personal Stories of Healthcare Systems Around the World
@BooksMoore The idiots in Washington aren't even reading the bills, and they are being written by radicals. That's not isolated in my view.
@###### aren't even reading the bills, and they are being written by radicals. | Such ignorance. How about you try to get to college, eh?
@###### The idiots in D.C. aren't even reading the bills | Failure to understand Congress. They wrote da bills; staff pour over every word.
@BooksMoore I don't need college to be such a great American. That's what's wrong with you nose in the air progressives.
@###### I don't need college |As I c it, ur like a brainwashed cult member b/c you lack habits of mind needed to think critically.