GM's On-Star Time to boycott their vehicles.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

If you read their contract (VERY CAREFULLY), between the legalese, you soon realize that you have willingly signed away all rights to privacy.
You have given them away to GM, the NSA, the local authorities and anyone else interested in your conversations within your car. And there is no way that you can get back that waiver of your rights.

OnStar is the most intrusive, effective and destructive system available to the NSA, Dick Cheney and the president. GM might try to sell it as a safety device. In a sense, it is. Just like Big Brother's big screen in every house can be used to prevent burglaries. Or the big ear in every office being able to ferret out fraud from (those companies that are not on Santa's good list, but are considered bad because they did not donate enough to the powers that be) companies breaking some obscure patent, tax or Ex-Im law.

And the best part is, you signed your ass away. You have NO right to even an expectation of privacy. You have no 4th amendment rights. You have no right against self-incrimination. You are fucked, my friend.

Considering the extra-ordinarily low incidence of On-Star specific accidents, like those which involve your car drowning in a rising river, and you have to scream to OnStar to get emergency help, compared to all of the rest of the time you spend talking in your car, guess who wins. It ain't you.

So, as a Memorial Day Promise, after you bow your head to those who lost their lives to secure our privacy, our democracy and our freedom, promise to boycott GM. That, more than anything else, would be the most patriotic step you could take.

[gristy]

1. Could you post the contract? I'm curious.

Thanks.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

3. before I was about to sign, I ripped that part off. and tore it up.

THEN, the GM salesman said removing OnStar would cost more than the price they were going to charge to install it.
I walked out of the shop. no more GM for me. Ever again.

[tives12]

2. Do they have access to those Speed-Pass/EZ Pass things too?

I don't know what else they call them around the world, but it lets you just go through the toll booths w/o stopping. Do you know if the government uses that to track cars? My grandma refuses to use one in case they are tracking people.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

5. EZ pass. And although they do not track speeders, (precluded by law)

they do subpoena records to confirm alibis in criminal cases.

It is only one small step by that shitheel AG Alberto "I REALLY know what you said last summer" Gonzales before they change that.

[napi21]

4. I would say as long a people KNOW what they're okaying, then

in many instances, it's a good thing.I've always been meticulous in mainting my cars. Oil changes every 3,000 miles, check the brakes every six months, and replace the shoes somewhat before it's really needed, flush the radiator once a year and put in new anti-freeze, etc. But there are MILIONS of drivers who just drive until their car quits or has a major problem!

As I understand it, the OnStar checks your car's computer every month and lets you know when it needs something. I think it's great to be able to contact them if you're lost.

I don't have a car with the OnStar option, and if I did, I'm too damn cheap to pay the monthly charge, but I really can see it as a big benefit...as long as people know in advance exactly what the risks to privacy are.

[Jon8503]

6. Thats what I did. My wife's car has it & we paid the monthly cost for her

parents when they got their car.

It is another good safety feature that gives you peace of mind in some cases.

I read the contract and feel ok with it.