 Arguing with Idiots: How to Stop Small Minds and Big Government by Glenn Beck |
GLENN: Well, Arguing with Idiots, it is the way to win every argument on everything that is out there. I mean, Healthcare? Look up the chapter. Gun control? Look up the chapter on gun control. We give you their stupid argument and then we give you the way to beat it. For instance, when your friend says...
PAT: Yeah, you are always whining about the nanny state. You know what? People need guidance. If they don't get it, they will start eating like you; they'll weigh more than the entire State of Nebraska.
GLENN: First of all let's say that's true.
PAT: It is true.
GLENN: So what?
PAT: So go ahead and say it.
GLENN: It's true.
PAT: It's true.
GLENN: It's true. So what?
PAT: What do you mean so what?
GLENN: If I want to make my arteries flow as well as trying to suck a Twinkie through a straw, that's my business, isn't it?
PAT: No.
GLENN: By the way, I've tried sucking a Twinkie through a straw and it's almost, I stress almost, impossible.
PAT: Yeah, it's your business until I wind up having to pay for your healthcare because 400,000 people die of obesity every year.
GLENN: Wow, what a great stat. I've heard that over and over and over again.
PAT: I know.
GLENN: But if you look on Page 165 of Arguing With Idiots, you'll see the footnote that shows that the actual number is ridiculously exaggerated. It's actually about 1/16th of that number. But beyond that, isn't the real problem that you'd have to pay for my bad choices? I mean, if we'd stop trying to pay for everybody's bad choices, we wouldn't have to worry so much. I could live my life completely with a, you know, portable jar of mayonnaise in my briefcase and you could live yours with green beans and watercress and we'll see who dies happier.
PAT: Oh, please, I'm just talking about some common sense solutions here. Like listing the amount of calories on the menu of fast food restaurants like they did in New York City.
GLENN: Yeah, you are right. That's a perfect example.
PAT: I know it is.
GLENN: Yeah. Even though most of the restaurants already had nutritional information posted or in pamphlets for anybody who wanted it.
PAT: Oh, yeah. But you had to walk four or five steps to the right of the counter to get that.
GLENN: Uh huh.
PAT: Putting it on the menu makes it so much easier for people to make the smart choices about what they eat, way easier.
GLENN: Smart choices. You'll see the problem with these laws is you can check on how well they work, you see, and that's what researchers did. They found that only about half of the people even noticed the calories.
PAT: But still, it's worth it. If you are helping just half the people.
GLENN: Really?
PAT: Yeah.
GLENN: Well, it's not half.
PAT: What do you mean?
GLENN: Over 70% of the people who noticed the calories on the board completely ignored them. Overall according to your beloved New York Times, about 12 1/2% of the people said they made healthier decisions based opt menu.
PAT: Okay, but still. 12 1/2% of people are healthier.
GLENN: Oh, no, not so fast. Read the book, Arguing With Idiots. You see, people lie all the time about what they eat. So the same study went one step further. They waited outside of restaurants and paid the customers two bucks to get their receipts so they could actually see what they ate. The results? People actually increased the amount of calories they consumed after the law was in place.
PAT: Well, then how many laws are in effect every time you walk by the vending machine?
GLENN: See? See what happens?
PAT: You know what, Mr. Beck? Nacho cheese dust is not on the food pyramid, okay? Neither is Crisco oil.
VOICE: Arguing With Idiots available at bookstores everywhere, or order now at GlennBeck.com/bookczar.
