Lynn Harsh appears on the Glenn Beck Show to discuss "The Story of Stuff"

[DiscoverTheTruth12]

Planned obsolescence is a fact. Just as the Story of Stuff states. The corporations don't build things to last anymore. My old CD player lasted a few months. My OLD washer/Dryer set was built like a tank. Lasted nearly 24 years (I bought it used). My new set, even though I bought the same brand and paid top dollar for it lasted less than 8 years. Leaks, broken belts...etc. non-stop trouble.

And our PC's are considered OLD in just a few years. They update the CPU and toss in a bigger HD.

[DiscoverTheTruth12]

The Story of Stuff is right.

In 1930 our world population was just over 2 Billion.

In 2005 our world population was at 6.5 Billion.

We can't keep up with the destruction of a limited amount of resources on our planet if we consume them faster and faster and keep polluting our water, land, air and our bodies?

Beck is only railing on this film because it said Tides Foundation on it.

It's a political agenda, nothing else and Beck knows it.

[JackBlair2]

@DiscoverTheTruth12 Your first to lines are true, as far as it goes. Yes, population grew.

The rest of your post is based on dubious premises.

[1androo2]

@DiscoverTheTruth12 ohhhhhh..... so capitalism made life too easy for humans, and as a result the human race reproduced at rates that test the capacity of the Globe? i'm glad you clarified it for me.

[ViolaCrysis]

These people in the video represent the CORPORATIONS in The Story of Stuff. Mr. Beck has it all wrong. That woman worked in economics, so she's probably interested in getting the MOST MONEY POSSIBLE, which means we, the consumer, need to BUY. I'm sorry if this offends you, but Beck is an idiot, and this is coming from a 13-year old child.

[mw2boss321]

then dont watch the GLENN BECK video if u dont like him gamefreak

[Gamefreak7890]

Really? A video about not being wasteful consumers and recycling is viewed as propaganda? If anything, this exactly the kind of message that would have prevented us from ending up in the financial situation we are in. You want to talk about propaganda, Glenn Beck and Fox News are probably the worst example of propaganda since Nazi Germany.

[larrywalkerntbi]

@Gamefreak7890 A-freaking-men.

[ThoseWhoStayUofM]

@Gamefreak7890 "A video about not being wasteful consumers and recycling is viewed as propaganda?"

That's not all that it is about. It points out patently false "problems" with the free-market system we use such as claiming it destroys forests (when it actually maintains them better than any other system), it is harmful to consumers (when it is actually the most helpful to consumers), it takes advantage of poor nations (when it actually generates wealth in poorer nations), etc.

[Gamefreak7890]

@ThoseWhoStayUofM I'm not so sure about all that. Granted, I don't have concrete proof to show you but judging from the character (or lack thereof) of the people in power as well as that of CEO's of a lot of major corporations, it would not surprise me if a lot of what is presented in this video is actually true.

[ThoseWhoStayUofM]

@ViolaCrysis "How do free markets 'maintain' forests?"

Lumber is a natural resource on any given plot of land. When a tree is cut down, that resource is gone unless a new tree is replanted in it's place. If individuals own acres of land, they have strong incentive to maintain the resources on that land to increase it's worth. Government's don't hold this same incentive since often they are impacted by what will get them the most votes rather than what will earn them the most money.

[ThoseWhoStayUofM]

@ViolaCrysis "We are chopping down forests to support our economy"

That's not true. In fact, the US has maintained it's level of forests for hundreds of years. The Amazon is losing it's forests though. This is due to the fact that it is owned by the governmnet who has an incentive to cut down it's resources in exchange for political gain. Politicians have zero incentive devote tax dollars to maintaining the forest because it offers zero political gain to do so.

[ViolaCrysis]

@ThoseWhoStayUofM

Thank you for correcting my mistakes. 

[sockosockosocko]

free marketeers seem to miss (or intentionally deny) the fact that there's no level playing field. the market rules happen to favor them so they preach to protect the status quo. thoughts?

[ThoseWhoStayUofM]

@sockosockosocko "there's no level playing field."

If you are claiming that, in our economic system, individuals are allowed to pass on thier accumulated wealth to their offspring rather than have it taken from them by some third party then this is true. I suppose we should take your money and have it handed to the south american, northern african, and middle eastern people of the world because the USA is far too wealthy and we need "an even playing field"... thoughts?

[sockosockosocko]

@ThoseWhoStayUofM wow that's not at all what i meant. i see that i wasn't very clear. i was thinking about the clean energy subsidies that republicans hate so much. this money wouldn't be needed if dirty energy wasn't so heavily subsidized in the first place. the actual price of gas, for example, is $10-15/gallon. most of it comes from taxes. claiming that we HAVE a any thing close to a free market is VERY misleading.

[sockosockosocko]

story of stuff must have got it right if glenn beck hates it. woohoo! go annie!

[danchiaperini]

I would have a point of view but you cut her. normal I know.

[danchiaperini]

I woulod have a point of view but you cut her. normal I know.

[LawnChairMedia]

Free Market??? The following products have been designed, developed, and delivered to major corporations at the expense of the taxpayer via public universities, the military, NASA, or other govt programs:

overseas shipping containers, power cordless drills, satellite TV, computers, fiber optics (Cable TV)...and yes, the internet...but we should listen to idiots like Glenn Beck who convince people to hate things that benefit their lives and love things that make the rich richer??

[supeultramegaunknown]

@LawnChairMedia I hadn't seen this from that perspective; I had never thought of products developed by means other than free markets, and seeing your list and the benefits those developments bring to our lives today is amazing. You have a point, very insightful

[LawnChairMedia]

@supeultramegaunknown thanks...just realize first what type of market we actually live in...it's not really free enterprise if all the financial risk of developing new products is on the taxpayer. next, a corporation's only objective is to maximize profits for it's shareholders...so a CEO, who could be very pro-environment, can't do much about it because if he starts focusing on green measures, which cost something, he will hurt those profits...and be replaced

[youknowjustsayin]

has anyone ever seen v for vendetta...?

[TuberOnTheLoose]

Of course liberals hate Glenn Beck. He uses a weapon they just don't have: facts. Glenn backs up every claim with film or documentation. All the liberals got is lies and name calling.

[HelpImAmerican]

I think what is important here is "this is being shown in our schools" about 40 years too late (so much for Honesty)...but never the less...it's a start

[RetSquid]

@HelpImAmerican

Why would you want a video like 'stuff' shown in schools? It's full of demonstrable LIES.

[BBman08]

Glenn Beck is douche bag straight up

[Eyes1919]

Glenn Beck and Lynn Harsh sound EXACTLY like drug pushers .... talking to coke addicts about the ills of quitting just before the big party. "Hit the pipe just one more time. What will happen to all our life if you quit?"

Fact is that we consume incredible amounts of stuff. Look only to the literal mountains of old gaming devices that are obsolete, boom boxes, CB radios, hula hoops, big wheels, walk mans, 8-track stereo sets, old computers, tires, and Game Boys. Where are they all?

[Cerigos]

These people have been organized for a long time bum bum buuuuuuuum!!! haha

[Tkdkid9]

@acefaceplace Glenn is a very smart and intelligent person. At least he tells the truth unlike the other 98% of people on the news. Everything that Glenn has stated is both logically and accurately correct by proof. How many other people on the news report based on pure fact when speaking on an event. He discusses cause and effect as well, which this government doesn't seem to understand the meaning of. I support Glenn and wish that there were more people who would stand up and be just like him.

[acefaceplace]

Fuck you Glen Beck!

[TheChristmasFan]

@acefaceplace Fuck you, you don't know shit about him.

[acefaceplace]

@TheChristmasFan Oh I know enough to see that he is narrow minded.I watch CNN, and Bill O'reily and Nancy whatever her name is, to know their close minded Hypocrites I understand Fuck you is some harsh words, but I dislike how he acts and that's my opinion, So Go and play Your Call of Duty you SHEEP!

[danielbtrb]

omg, i really dislike these two...."makes us ashamed to be americans"!!!!!!! open your eyes babe, time for some self-criticism, it will be good for everybody!!

[Gaznugget]

@danielbtrb, your comment

"omg, i really dislike these two...."makes us ashamed to be americans"!!!!!!! open your eyes babe, time for some self-criticism, it will be good for everybody!!" - You are exactly right. I think Americans should be "ashamed to be americans", because they have consumed all the recources for themselves and left future generations none. The Brits and other consumer countries should also be included in this. I'm a Brit, and we are just as bad as the USA, consumers.

[kparso]

Odd - no mention of the fact that Safeco Field cost taxpayers $370 million...

[cignasty47]

I live in Seattle and got my book signed by Glenn today and complimented miss Harsh when she walked by me. She was very thankful.... what a privilege. I told Glenn that I tried the frog thing and it didn't work and he cracked up. Lolz so cool.

[rpstumpf]

Very interesting; I like to have two viewpoints presented to our children, not one viewpoint with an agenda. I hope schools will show both, then have open and honest discussion time.

[deathspleasure]

They won't, because they want that one view and brainwashing technique.

[freesk8]

Yay, EFF!