Libertine: On the Prowl

Vidi, vici, veni -- I saw, I conquered, I came. _______________________________________________________________

Misanthrope

12:45, 2009-Mar-3 .. Posted in rants .. 2 comments .. Link

I've not ragged on Neal Boortz in awhile, so here goes. I've come to the conclusion that he is a complete misanthrope; he hates everyone who isn't just like him.

His latest target? Elderly people who live part time in Florida, aka, "Snow Birds".

While enduring one of his broadcasts the other night, he went on a tear about retirees who come to Florida when it's cold up north, and go back home in the summer.

What were the reasons the nearly sixty-five year old Boortz gave? He complained about how many old people drive: too slow, too cautious, etc, insisting that their licenses needed to immediately be taken from them. While it is true that many old people don't need to be driving any more, that isn't the point of this entry, so I'll confine myself to saying that a better strategy to be to create reliable and alternative ways for such people to get around and to expand low-cost deliveries of essential items, such as groceries. I'm guessing he either doesn't realize or doesn't care that many old people don't have anyone to run their errands for them, take them to the doctor, and so on. I agree that something needs to be done, but merely howling "take their licenses!" and leaving it at that, does nothing to solve the problem in a meaningful way.

That being said, he used this as an example of why he hates "Snow Birds". Well, there are a lot of old people in Florida, many of them living there year round, but he didn't have anything to say about elderly people who are permanent Florida residents. Does he think living in one state automatically improves driving skills? Or does he think that bad driving is excusable in that instance?

His second reason for hating "Snow Birds" was...if you can actually believe it...because many elderly people get a cart when they go into the grocery store to buy only a couple of items. Boortz couldn't stand that such people "used the carts as a walker" by leaning over them as they walked through the store. He was of the opinion that if you are going into the store for only a couple of items, then you had no business getting a cart.

What a fucking ass. Did it ever occur to him that a person who does this might have a bad back and that using the cart saves them from a lot of pain? I'm surprised he didn't rag on the folks who use store scooters or shoppers in wheelchairs as well.

I guess he longs for the "good old days" when people with physical challenges simply stayed home, out of sight, and didn't inconvenience healthier people in a hurry.

What a miserable human being this guy must be.

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Untitled Comment

10:02, 2009-Mar-3 .. Posted by Rubicon
If this is all he has to complain about then he leads a pretty sad life! Apparently he doesn't realize that he too will be there....that is if he lives that long.
I agree that there are some pretty bad elderly drivers out there, and should give up driving, preferably on their own. Not with the kind of hostility that Boortz displays.

I finally got a taste of that guy, he was on a round table type news program as a contributing analyst. Who asked him to show up was beyond me. He reminds me of another radio talk show host.....Michael Savage. I think his show is called "Coast to Coast." The guy is a real creep, but he too thinks that everyone should think like him, and if they don't he'll yell at 'em. And like Boorzt's elderly rant Savage finds subject material that is either irrelevant, or just plain stupid.

The elderly in grocery stores can definitely be a nuisance. They'll stop right in the middle of the isle, sometimes bang into you, and don't watch where they're going. But like you said, many of these folks don't have someone to run errands for them much less go to the store. And I can't see what's wrong with a senior citizen, (or seasoned citizen), using a cart even though they're only getting a few items.....what are they supposed to do; carry stuff in their arms?

I guess I ranted so long and took up so much space is because my mom is in her 80's, yet still very active. There are some things however that she feels she can't do and one of those things is going shopping at the grocery store. Funny how she can do water-aerobics four days a week but doesn't like going to the store! She's still a good driver but I believe that she'll decide when it's time to put down the keys. Anyways....I guess that's 'nuff said.

Untitled Comment

09:17, 2009-Mar-3 .. Posted by littleMissConfused
Oh trust me...it's not the little old people that are the problem at the grocery store. Guys like this Boortz are usually the biggest dickheads in line. He would be the one reaching across your shopping cart to get the ketchup, when all he would have to do is say "excuse me" and you would move out of the way...

I'm glad there are "snowbirds" They come back to Minnesota during the summertime. Our store gets busier and it adds more moeny into the economy.