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Book Nook: ‘Arguing’ showcases Beck’s wit

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By Vick Mickunas, Contributing Writer 8:40 PM Saturday, September 26, 2009

“Arguing With Idiots — How to Stop Small Minds and Big Government” by Glenn Beck (Threshold Editions, 325 pages, $29.99)

Glenn Beck is a talk radio superstar, popping up everywhere lately: on the cover of Time Magazine and being interviewed by Katie Couric.

Beck parlayed his gift for gab into multiple media exposures: radio, TV, books. His latest book, “Arguing With Idiots — How to Stop Small Minds and Big Government,” is divided into 12 chapters. Each showcases his views and wicked sense of humor. Here are my impressions:

1. “In defense of capitalism.” Beck believes that “the truth is that capitalism is neither good nor evil, it just is.” He thinks that it creates an environment where some people have better chances for success. He would know. Beck reportedly earns nearly $500,000 a week.

2. “The Second Amendment — ammunition to defend your rights.” The author has little confidence in the ability of the police to protect citizens.

3. “Education.” In Beck’s book, big government is the enemy, along with unions, progressives, socialists and most of the media. He claims that our current educational system now serves as a conduit “to promote an agenda (i.e., the Founding Fathers were evil, old white men; Christopher Columbus was a genocidal brute; Castro is a visionary; corporations bad! government good!)”

4. “America’s energy future.” Beck says, “Anyone who says that environmentalists have never brought us anything good isn’t being fair, because we can thank the green movement for the invention of the SUV. I’ll make sure to think of that the next time my giant Escalade is crushing a Smart Car like a monster truck.”

5. “Unions.” Beck is anti-union. He asserts that Barack Obama is a pawn of the Service Employees International Union.

6. “Illegal Immigration.” Beck wants to seal off both of our borders: “I don’t want ‘a’ fence, I want two of them.” He doesn’t explain who would build them or pay for them.

7. “The Nanny State.” He resents many rules and regulations.

8. “Owning a home.” People who cannot afford houses should not even try to buy them.

9. “Economics 101.” Beck reportedly makes $23 million a year. He hates paying taxes.

10. “U.S. Presidents.” Only Ronald Reagan scores highly with Beck. He smears George W. Bush as being “progressive-lite.” In an interview last week with Katie Couric, Beck said: “ I think John McCain would have been worse for the country than Barack Obama.”

11. “Universal health care.” He doubts that 46 million Americans actually lack health insurance. He provides this ridiculous example: “Let’s assume that you have health insurance through your job. One day you hit the lottery for $300 million and quit ... you let your insurance lapse for a month. Then, once the check clears, you buy the greatest health insurance policy in human history.” On Beck’s planet, this is the kind of person who would be counted among the uninsured.

12. “The U.S. Constitution.” Should be read.

Contact book reviewer Vick Mickunas at vick@vickmickunas.com.

Book Nook

Vick Mickunas

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