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Originally Posted by Doc
It would be nice if someone could have a discussion about concerns they have without all the "tin foil" condescending put-downs and smart-ass remarks.
On the one hand if you have Onstar and your car is stolen and recovered as a result of Onstar, that would be a good thing. If you are involved in an accident and are trapped in the car or are unconscious and Onstar was able to get help to you and save your life, that would be a good thing.
On the other hand, if you go in to your dealer for a service call and they plug their computers into your car's computer, and that data which has everything you've done in the car is sent to the city/county/state, you could be ticketed/fined and if your insurance company is given that data, they could raise your rates or even cancel you if the data shows you were greatly exceeding the speed limit. That would not be a good thing. The fact that you were on a track when you did that might escape their attention but go ahead and try to "correct" a mistake like that in the system once it's made.
If the data implies you are a "danger and threat" to "public health and safety" and a disable command is sent shutting down your car; you now have a car that you paid/are paying for which some bureaucrat has legally disabled and it's now completely useless to you. And you also have a record now of being a "danger and threat to public safety" which of course would dramatically affect your job, career and status in society. Imagine how you'd be treated if you were pulled over by a cop and he runs your plate and that warning pops up on his screen.
There are extreme possibilities on both sides of the coin. Question is, does the good out-weigh the bad and how carefully has that been considered? As long as it's optional then you have the freedom of choice to use it or not. The moment you are forced by government to accept something that should be optional; it becomes a tyranny. That I think is the main concern.
The only thing preventing tyranny is lack of infrastructure and means to enforce it; the mentality is certainly there. Did you know in North Korea people who were seen "not grieving enough" at the recent funeral of dear departed dictator were rounded up and sent to labor camps? The mentality for that kind of tyranny is active and out there; mocking someone's concerns over it's possible establishment and growth is extremely foolish, naive and short-sighted.
It's much better to intelligently and rationally discuss it in a civil manner so everyone can be informed and aware, because only then do we have a chance to safeguard our hard-won liberties.
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Well stated. Civility should be a requirement for any conversation.
I'm on the side of the coin that sees OnStar as useful, and I have not seen any data that indicates that it could be used against me in the normal course of how I use my car.
I'll tell you what, though, if I ever wanted to rob a bank or become untraceable as I made an exit, I sure as heck wouldn't be driving the Camaro as my getaway car (as cool as I'd look...). If I ever crashed the car and was, god-forbid, under the influence, I'd be getting the hell away from that car and reporting it stolen because the police would already be on their way. OnStar can be your best friend and most helpful enemy.
But if it's me, in a situation gone wrong and I turn the car over on a remote road in a totally unintended accident, and my cell phone goes flying out of the car as the windows break out, and I'm trapped inside, injured...I'm going to be pushing that little onstar phone button for all its worth and thanking my lucky stars that I paid $20/month or whatever for that simple service.
Onstar works when a car is laying on its side, 10,000 feet up a mountain, 2 hours from the nearest place that's got a tow truck. I know this for fact.
