harmonicminer

10 Responses to “Big Brother in your computer”

1. dave says:
   August 3rd, 2009 9:43 am

   Do you seriously believe this?

   The first significant problem is that this isn’t even on cars.gov. The second is that you can’t even log into the CARS system if you not a car dealer.

   But we know that Glenn Beck will never let facts get in the way of a “story.”
2. Tom says:
   August 3rd, 2009 9:45 am

   I read some comments that this particular site is for the car dealers only, not the general public. I haven’t confirmed this. I understand the governments desire to cut down on fraud in the system and I have an idea that’s what the disclaimer is intended for. It is a legal way to get information if fraud is suspected.

   You know, I am not a fan of this regime; I want them gone. I’m just not sure this is something to get all excited about, yet.
3. harmonicminer says:
   August 3rd, 2009 9:58 am

   I didn’t try “logging in” as Beck shows it myself. Dunno. But one of the reporters there is an attorney, and I expect she is aware of the situation. Also possible that since the airing of the report, the gov’t changed the screens.

   I’m inclined to the perspective of Jonah Goldberg in the vid, i.e., somebody in the gov’t is really, really stupid.

   But you have to admit: even if it’s only for dealers, even if the general public can’t get to that screen (concerning which I haven’t personally verified), the warnings and demanded promises are simply ridiculous. “Domestic AND Foreign”? Give me a break.

   The larger context: when the feds are “giving” you something, they are always, always, always demanding something.

   TANSTAAFL
4. enharmonic says:
   August 3rd, 2009 1:36 pm

   Dave is apparently already a part of the ‘collective’. Who would have guessed?
5. dave says:
   August 3rd, 2009 2:35 pm

   Melody flies in with a personal attack that adds nothing to the conversation. Who would have guessed?
6. dave says:
   August 4th, 2009 12:43 pm

   Officially debunked. Or, at least Snopes has officially debunked it.
7. harmonicminer says:
   August 4th, 2009 2:36 pm

   Watch the vid closely, and you’ll see them say that it is a dealer link they went to, near the beginning.

   Looks to me like the Jonah Goldberg thesis is correct… this is a case of FEDS being very, very stupid.

   And while the “conscionable test” suggested at Snopes may apply, it strikes me as being exceedingly dependent on judicial interpretation. I think closer to the truth is Dickens’ Mr. Bumbles: “The law is an ass.” A donkey, that is.

   I do not agree to things in the hope that some judge somewhere will declare that the agreement must be invalid because it’s “unconscionable.”
8. A Seeker says:
   August 4th, 2009 11:13 pm

   http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2009/08/cars-gov-terms-service
   Is the site “Snopes” uses to allegedly debunk the Beck video. There is nothing in the article that makes the video false. The email going around stating the government can monitor your computer when you press “continue” after the disclaimer was debunked. The fact is the wording discussed in the video was on the site. It has been changed. Sorry Dave but the Beck video was not debunked.
9. dave says:
   August 5th, 2009 6:48 am

   Watch the vid closely, and you’ll see them say that it is a dealer link they went to, near the beginning.

   Before or after they said, numerous times, that it was the cars.gov site?

   It was never on Cars.gov.
10. harmonicminer says:
    August 5th, 2009 8:57 am

    Dave, I think there is a special “dealers area” that’s reached via Cars.gov, but that is only seen after you register AS a dealer, or maybe during the registration process, not sure. Then, when you’re actually submitting a transaction for reimbursement would be when you would see the page in question… if it’s still there, of course. Governments, institutions, political action committees and candidates have a way of taking down pages they find embarrassing.

    Either way, wherever it is, I repeat: even if it’s only for dealers, even if the general public can’t get to that screen (concerning which I haven’t personally verified), the warnings and demanded promises are simply ridiculous. “Domestic AND Foreign”? Give me a break.

    The larger context: when the feds are “giving” you something, they are always, always, always demanding something.