Glenn Beck Warns Of OnStar Technology

Joe Seales ^ | 10-22-09 | Joe Seales

[JoeSeales]

Audio From Glenn Beck's Radio Program (Aired LIVE 10.22.09)- Did you know OnStar has the ability to shut off your engine, deflate your tires and listen to what you are saying inside your car?? It's true. They never used to use this technology, though it has been available- but now that the government is running GM, apparently they have decided to go ahead with it..Did we miss that press release? At the very least, it should concern you..with this kind of technology in the wrong hands..

Part 1-http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDoDwEPKYMA

Part 2-http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zhXEzJHWF1c

[GOPJ]

The Obama folks are veeeery thin skinned - and powerful. Not a great combination if you’re the “enemy”...

[justlurking]

I know there are valves that are linked electronically to warn of low pressure.

They aren't valves. They are just wireless sensors.

[Hodar]

The OnStar controller is hooked up to accelerometers that can detect a crash and initiate a call for help...even if you are unconscious.

Let's play the odds game. What percentage of cars have an accident? Of those, what percentage result in an unconscious driver, and no one to call for help? Of those, how many are head-on crashes? Remind me again, where is the battery located in these cars?

Logically, it would appear to me that in a crash harsh enough to do what you are claiming, the battery will be destroyed - all it has to do is get a crack and lose it's fluid - then it's nothing but lead and plastic - it's inert.

Now, if the On-Star unit has it's own power supply, built in and armored, you have a great point.

[Hodar]

I put over 100k miles on the car and wouldn’t die

Sounds like you had the 4 cylinder version, I had the V6. I didn't have quite the horsepower issue you had. It got up to speed just fine, it just broke down constantly. I couldn't afford to spend every spare dime I had on fixing it, so I babied it. Slow acceleration, never abused it - if you are poor and fixing a car constantly - you NEVER abuse it. Transmission 'locked up' on the interstate causing me to come to a screeching stop during a blizzard. Thankfully there was little traffic or that could have been serious.

This car should NEVER have made it on to the market. Like I said; when a car company has utter contempt for it's customer base, and intentionally designs their cars to wear out to the point they are not worth fixing, with the idea that you will rush out and drop another year's wages on a new car - only an idiot would purchase that car company's car again. Contrast this with Toyota and Honda who decided to make the best and most reliable cars on the planet.

Like I said, Chevy could call me and offer me $500 to take a brand new flagship car off their hands - and my reply would be "Never call me again, and you can keep your car; I would honestly rather walk". Yes, it's hatred that intense. I don't forgive companies with pre-meditated programs like Chevy. Ever.

[Tenacious 1]

OnStar is a pretty good idea. Its too bad they’re on GM cars

If I understand correctly, OnStar is an independent company with a contract with GM. I wonder what those contract terms are. When their contract is up, they could make their product available to any manufacturer. It would be up to the manufacturer to decided if they make it "standard" as GM did.

I would be willing to bet that making OnStar standard on vehicles at GM was part of the reason OnStar agreed to sell exclusively to GM.

[Myrddin]

There are plenty of "slide off" and single car loss of control accidents in Idaho. "Head on" is pretty unusual with divided highways. Driving too fast around a turn or sliding off due to rain, ice or snow is fairly common. Multiple roll overs are common too. All of those can occur without damage to the battery. If you don't want the technology, don't buy a car with the equipment installed and/or don't pay the bill for the service.

[goat granny]

I never could figure out why you needed lights in the daytime...what was the reason for that, I am curious and none of my kids have an answer, and they are not young uns...

[goat granny]

My lab did the same thing one time...my keys were still in the car. The though that the dog could lock the door by jumping at the door and hitting the lock never occurred to me...I went into the store again and called for the police to help me...(old lady's get away with stuff like that ) and went back out to the parking lot...the dog got excited again at seeing me and unlocked the door by jumping on it the same way she locked it...

Grabbed the keys and went back into the store to cancel call to police....the dispatcher got a big laugh out of it...

[goat granny]

now that is funny.........

[BenKenobi]

It makes it easier to spot your vehicle.

[stevio]

It does help others see you better when you have your lights on. But it will reduce your gas mileage because lights use energy, and IF I WANT MY DAMN LIGHTS ON I’LL TURN THEM MYSELF!

[browniexyz]

Perhaps the Government Takeover of GM was just that simple—to put that technology in the hands of Homeland Security and the FBI without the Gov having to pay for it!

[webschooner]

No Goobermint Motors vehicles will ever enter my garage. It’s a Toyota only zone.

[goat granny]

I agree, if I want them on I;ll turn them on....but I sure cannot see how it makes a car better to see at high noon in sunny Florida...

I thought some idiot in congress figured we are too damn dumb to turn the lights on after dark so decide to save us from our stupidity and make another regulation for the auto industry.. :O)

my thanks to both of you for answering my question, but I still don't get it....guess I am too old for adjustments needed in todays America. We know when we need our lights on..

[Hodar]

If you don't want the technology, don't buy a car with the equipment installed and/or don't pay the bill for the service.

While I have no problem at all with anyone else having or using OnStar; my issue is that this technology has in the past been used against the owner. The police have, in the past, activated the OnStar device and recorded the driver's (and passenger's)conversations. In the case listed, the police not only monitored and recorded a drug transaction, they followed the car to the location of the transaction and apprehended everyone involved; using the tapes as evidence.

So, if the drug dealer's own car and equipment can be used to monitor his converstations for months, and his every movement monitored - what about the person who is facing a divorce? Child Custody? Late payments on bills? Job investigation? Where is the line drawn? Or, I can chose to not own OnStar and avoid any possible invasion of my privacy. Want to bug me, then buy your own darn bug - don't hack my property to use my technology against me.