"When plunder becomes a way of life for a group of men living together in society, they create for themselves in the course of time a legal system that authorizes it and a moral code that justifies it."
Yesterday I told you about Chicago's Thug Mayor Richard Daley, who blames the shooting at Fort Hood on "America's love of guns."Thought you might enjoy this reaction from a listener.John says: Blaming guns for killing people is like blaming dollar bills for insanely spending themselves in Washington on entitlement programs.
Absolutely.But I'm sure that these politicians in Washington who are bankrupting this country and your grandchildren's futures .. I am sure they will find a way to blame it on the dollars themselves rather than just simply looking in a mirror.
Another listener .. this time on Twitter ... said that if guns kill people then pencils misspell words.That about wraps it up.
Webguy and Cristina tell me that I have a lot of thongs in a wad over a caller to the show on Friday. We haven't seen hate mail like this in a long time. Someone went to the Church of the Painful Truth and apparently didn't like the sermon. I love it! So if you want to hear how I stirred the puddin', listen to Nealz Nuze today during the Information Overload Hour at 12:35PM ET. Or if you missed it, just listen here. In the meantime, here is a taste of the emails:
Name: john Subject: your attitude your conversation with the unemployed construction worker with 4 kids was so degrading!!! not everyone can be a college grad nor does that guarantee success in life. you are such a snob. i could see you treating the poor & unfortunate as hitler did the jews. my grandaughter just graduated gov school with a 4.2 average & started univ of central fla as a sophmore due to college accredited honor classes in high school. her parents were not irresponble but wonderful loving parents. not everyone can afford a private school. get real neal!!! Right ... invoke Hitler. That's always a good move for small minds. And would someone please teach John where the "shift" key is?
Name: Robert Subject: todays show Today I was unimpressed with your show, in paticular the call from the construction worker, the one you cut off and railroaded for have 4 kids. You called him uneducated which just because someone didnt or couldnt go to collage does not make him stupid. I myself am a electrical contractor and take alook around your office and tell me could you do what you see? I bet not. We, like it or not are middle class America so you slamming us that make your privileged world go around isnt helping a thing, most times I can listen in , Today I think you crossed a line that I found offensive Huh? Slamming construction workers? This has nothing to do with the things in my office. It's about people, construction workers or airline pilots, having children they can't afford to raise. So many of our national problems can be blamed on this one behavior.
Name: Jo Subject: Food stamp caller Your tirade against the father of four who now uses food stamps was a disgrace. His taxes, for years, went to pay for others to eat; now that he has need, you dare rail against him like he is some low-life deadbeat? You shot yourself in the head as far as I am concerned, pal. This listener is gone for good. Ahhhh ... another one of those "I'm never going to listen to you again" emails. If I lost a listener for every one of these emails I get I would have been off the radio years ago. By the way ... there is no evidence this man has ever paid income taxes.
Name: Cecilia Subject: unemployed construction worker on today's show Iknow part of your spiel is "in your face" dialogue, but I just want to say I was disturbed with your message to the construction worker who called in and said he was currently unemployed. Your diatribe against him personally was shameful. Whenever one has to belittle someone and attack their personal integrity to try and make a point, really in my opinion has no valid point to make ... Your words to that gentleman were cruel and unnecessary. You could have given your perspective without the name calling (Mooch?) and insults. Blatant disrespect towards any human being will never further your agenda because it reveals a degraded heart. I hope you are really not that bitter towards your fellow man. I will pray for you! Sorry, Cecilia. I had a point to make, and it wasn't going to be made by me stroking this guy and telling him everything was going to be OK.
Well ... there's the reaction to that call from the construction worker. Now .. my response:
THE CONSTRUCTION WORKER VISITS THE CHURCH OF THE PAINFUL TRUTH
As you can see from those emails, more than a few of you were upset with my conversation with the construction worker last Friday. To recap: We had an out of work construction worker with six mouths to feed ... and he had made the decision to use the police power of government to seize someone else's property for his personal use. In other words .. he was on food stamps.
Ohhhhh .... that upsets you? Aw ... I'm sorry! Want me to kiss it and make it all better for you? What are you here for? Do you want me to just say things on the air that will make you nod your head and say "attaboy Neal!" You don't like your way of thinking challenged? Tell you what, why don't you write a set of rules and parameters for looters? Why don't you tell us when its OK to use the government to force the transfer of wealth from someone else to you, and when it's not. The world awaits your list of reasons that it would OK for you to use force to seize someone else's property. Theft is theft. Looting is looting .. no matter whether you do it for yourself, or use an agent like the government. Need is not a defense that will help you to escape punishment for your crime. If you hire someone to kill for you, you're guilty of murder. Why is it so different when you hire (vote for) someone to steal for you?
Your whining and moaning emails reminded me that this poor construction worker was out of work. He's not alone. You were upset that I have him a hard time for having four kids he couldn't feed.
Let's look at this situation without all the emotion for a minute. You ready? It's time for the PAINFUL TRUTH!
The estimate of what it takes to raise a child from fetus to 18 ranges from $200,000 to $250,000. That means our construction worker needs up to one million dollars to do an adequate job or raising his four kids. More than a million if he wants to put them through college.
I spent some time over the weekend on the Internet trying to learn a bit more about just what the average construction worker brings home. CareerBuilder.com has a website where you can research salaries and wages for thousands of jobs. The average salary for construction workers across the country is $29,805. In Atlanta that number is $26,746.
The United States Department of Health and Human Services issues poverty guidelines referred to as the "federal poverty level." Our construction worker has a family of six. The federal poverty level for a family that size is $29,530. In other words, the average wage in Atlanta for our construction worker with his family of six is below the federal poverty level. And that is IF he can find work.
You want some reality? Try this: Looking at these average wage figures, this man needs to work steadily for over 37 years just to pay the cost of raising those four children. He's a construction worker! What are the chances for this type of steady employment year-after-year for 37 years! No construction worker with any sense expects to be employed week after week, year after year. Oh .. and buy the way, that 37-year figure is somewhat bogus. Let's say these kids are three years apart. The oldest was nine when the youngest was born. That gives him 27 years, not 37, to earn that million bucks ... or end up over his head in debt. That $37,000 a year. You're not going to do that on a construction worker's wages.
Here's the bottom line. Our construction worker made a conscious decision to have four children. He knew, or he should have know if he had paid any attention at all, that his chosen field of construction work was not barley going to allow him and his family to live at the poverty level. A college education for his children? Well, you can pretty much forget that unless they excel in sports, or they have a rich grandma somewhere.
Well here's someone who deserves our pity, right? Look at the decisions he's made. Education? Maybe high school. If there was a college degree in the picture he wouldn't be a construction worker. (Well .. he could, I guess, be one of those brainiacs who pursued a degree in English or history.) Then ... after deciding to forego higher education, he gets married and starts downloading children - each with a $200,000 or more price tag - at a pretty fair clip; stopping at four. He's chosen employment in an industry where continued and steady employment is, at best, problematic, ... and he starts having children like a hamster; children that he cannot afford to raise. Then the inevitable happens. The work dries up. He can't feed his family ... and he decides it's time to take advantage of the willingness of the political class to seize property from private citizens and give it to him in return for his support and vote. Then, of course, I'm the bad guy when I point all this out!
I'm sorry folks, but you can meekly submit to this looting, but I'm not going to. If a person asks my help, that's one thing. Most Americans are more than willing to step forward and offer help to people in a tough spot; especially when children are involved. There are many private charities out there; and a community of churches, synagogues and mosques more than willing to help. But that's not what our construction worker has done. Instead, he has gone to the government - the only entity out there that can use deadly force to accomplish its goals - and, pointing a finger at his more productive neighbor, tells the government to "take that guy's money and give it to me. I have mouths to feed." One person's good decision-making and hard work should not set him up as a target for plunder by someone who has made poor decisions.
No excuses. If you're using food stamps - by whatever name - you are using the government as an instrument of plunder. You are instructing your political representatives to steal - to transfer wealth from those who earned it to you. Make all the excuses you want .. but you're a thief. Ditto for Section 8 housing and a variety of other government welfare programs.
One more thing ... there's this argument which says "Well, he paid his taxes, so now there's nothing wrong if he goes on food stamps for a while." Oh really? How about a shoplifter saying "Hey, I shopped at this store for years and paid for everything! Now I don't have the money, so it should be OK for me to take a few things I need." Yeah .... Works for me.
Been a while since Web Guy picked out a super-brilliant email for us to feature in the Nuze. Finally he found one. No surprise that it came from Austin, Texas. This guy is probably a 'sip.
Name: Steve City: austin Subject:VAT TAX
Gee Neil -
Why are you crying about the VAT Tax?
Who's going to pay for the couple trillion that BUSH, Cheney & the Gopers borrowed from the Commies in China for your IRAQ WAR?
Who's going to Pay for the Hundreds of Billions that Bush, Cheney and the Gopers gave to Halliburton, KBR and Blackwater?
How's going to Pay for the Trillions of added deficit spending from Bush, Cheney and the Gopers?
You are the definition of a political hack.
You would never dare to answer me or address that on your hair-brained radio show- so think about. Stop being a shallow nim-rod cry baby.
Why do you try to frighten your listeners with unsubstantiated musings on how Obama is going to take over their retirement accounts. Many of your fans are anxious enough with real financial concerns because of the economy. Some of them want to believe your worst predictions and I think you are throwing gasoline on a lighted fire -all in the pursuit of sensationalism to boost ratings. Do you have a conscience?
Web Guy responded to this guy by reminding him that during the first year of the Clinton administration they were actually formulating an idea to seize 15% of the outstanding balance of all pension and 401K plans. Howard was also reminded that one of Obama's heroes, Cristina Kirchner, the president of Argentina, recently seized all private pension plans in that country.
Get Real Neal, you probably are down with it on the definitions on racism and bigotism, but you are the poster child for elitism. You have been running your mouth for soooo long, you started believing your own BS a long time ago. How else can one explain the Lame Tax you've come up with. Get Real Neal!
"I just read your book (Somebody's Gotta Say It) during a vacation across the upper Midwest of America and I have decided I would make a terrible caller! I would be one to agree on mostly any subject you bring up. It truly stirred me. The last half of the trip became a political discussion because of your book. After the humor died down though, the truth came like a brick to the face. Our love for America must spur us up to save it before this grandest of experiments in human history fails. I have faith in mankind, but it is tested more and more each day. Keep feeding the flame until the horsesqueeze is gone!"
Some interesting email from someone who has never listened to my show. What a surprise:
Name: Alberto Mota City: El Paso, Texas. Subject: Swine flu!!??
first of all i just want to make clear the fact that i've never listened to you show by radio, you may ask yourself how do i know about you, or you may not because you seem to be a very popular man in your region at least, but well the reason i know you is because this morning i was watchig the news in a mexican channel, and they were talking about what everyone else is talking in the world: swine flu. so it got to my attention a piece that this channel put about your program.. i don't know, i just don't get, the way you say that every single mexican is a carrier..
what are you talking about???!!
and the fact that you don't want any mexican around you, not working in your properties, well, you know what... i don't think so, you need us, as well as we need dollars to pay our bills and to give shelter and food to our families, i mean, you need us, and we don't even need you, we didn't come to this country for you, we came because we needed to, and we don't go over there to cause problems, and i know there's people that become criminals and put a stain in our name, but there is people like that everywhere, and you know you're not helping us, and actually you know that the world you're dreaming on is not possible anymore..
One of the things i can't totally get is people like you, leaders that take their followers to a totally wrong way, all full of hatered and nationalisms...
coming back to the swine flu topic, if you're the responsable guy you seem to be, don't lie to your audience, think before you talk, inform youself and then if you have a reason to, blame someone, or on the other hand try to help the situation instead of getting it worse..
with the respect you deserve,
a citizen of the world...
Oh I love that "citizen of the world" nonsense. If you think you're a citizen of the world, try voting in elections outside your country. You folks know the truth here. I have never said any of the things alluded to in this character's email.
... nah, who am I kidding. I think you will see what I mean by this mind-numbing argument presented by Catcher ...
We'll just leave the spelling and punctuation as is. With critics like this I must be doing well!
Name: catcher Subject: Joseph Goebbels
Having to listen Boortz pump torture as a lifestyle on the radio is sick obviously. Must be similar to having Joseph Goebbels villify the jews in the 30s on the radio Perhaps some MIT prof will assign hacking into Boortz 's shrink's office to his students to get this impressive numbnuts off the radio.Should agree with Boortz since he no doubt approved of Nixon's Ellsberb break in.
What do you think, folks? Did this guy vote for Obama?
How do you sleep at night? I thought I had heard every right-wing selfish utterance on talk radio, but you, sir, have taken the prize. A separate line for food stamp recipients, seriously? People feeding their children via food stamps gets on your nerves? Seriously? I had to use food stamps when my twins were young or they would have gone hungry. And, let me tell you that I am forever grateful to live in a country where the less fortunate are given a helping hand.
My two daughters are now productive members of this society; one a successful attorney (Pell grants and student loans)and the other a para-legal with two beautiful children - no thanks to you and your kind.
So, sleep well at night, sir, and don't give one minute's thought to those who are less fortunate than you. And, oh yes, there should be separate lines in the supermarket - one for heartless, ignorant morons and the other lines for us good Americans.
Yup ... more of that "less fortunate" nonsense. If you work hard, don't have kids until you can afford to raise them, go the extra mile ... and end up a success, you were just "fortunate." It's all about luck. If, on the other hand, you have kids you can't afford and have to use the government as an instrument of plunder in order to feed them .. it's all because you were "less fortunate," or, to use the translation, just "unlucky."
I wonder why Marlene Cooksey never mention's the twins father?
Name:Chris Akers Subject:Normal for Libertarians? You are against government growth and control for everyone and everything unless it relates to the two things that seriously bother you, smoking and seat belts. Then you try to justify it by saying that you should not have to pay for those mistakes made by others. You cannot pick and choose. You either want government in or government out. Picking where you want government to interfere makes you sound like a wimpy liberal.
Name: Phil Novinger Subject: Today's "news conference I listen to your show occasionally and sometimes find your points of view refreshing and/or amusing. Today I happened to be tuned in when you did your little "Me Obama" schtick; your version of last night's press conference. You just came off as downright stupid, even more so than former President Bush at some of his news conferences. You should just stay with sticking it to the liberals...you're much better at that. Unfortunately,in my view, your shows lately are taking on the absurdity and over the top hysteria of Rush's and some other spear throwers of his ilk. I believe that you are more intelligent well educated than to go in the direction of a college drop out like Mr. Limbaugh.
Name: Bob Johnson Subject: Ego & Obscenity's Lo There..2 things please,I listen to you, Rush (at times), Hannity, and Michael Savage...you all have one thing in common...your "ego" each one of you thinks you're better than the other, and don't care to mention anything positive about the other...I appreciate all of you except for your habit of interrupting people when they call and try to present their case..#2 I await the day when I turn you on and the first thing I hear is a loud slap followed by a loud crash...both stemming from Belinda knocking you and your foul mouth and sexual innuendos plumb across the studio..I don't care if she cusses like a sailor herself...she's still a lady and you should respect her as such ...sooo my friend..have a good day ya heah..Bj
(That's rich .. he signs his email "BJ" and nails me for sexual innuendos. By the way, that's the name of Italy's number one selling suppository --- in case you didn't know.)
Name: Patty Subject: Comments Neal, do you ever read the comments left on your site? If you do, I can't believe that you're happy with the quality of right wing hate that you've generated. To read these, one would think that Bush had nothing to do with the circumstances this country finds itself in today, and that President Obama has caused every last hardship we are enduring. And, I'm just sure that most of the ones saying "Well, because you Liberals elected Obama, I'm not going to hire as many people, and none of them will be Democrats." Can't you just see the person that wrote that? Some person sitting at home (with no job) making up stories to make himself feel better than - oh I don't know - Anyone he can find, since he's such a loser. I would be ashamed of myself if I contributed to the hate and bashing that you do. You used to seem to have a conscience. Where did that go? Money is more important to you than principles and honesty, I guess. I feel sorry for you and your wife. I hope things get better for you. Again - this is from a graduate of private schools who completely disagrees with you.
Well ... Miss Patty. I've said this before: If Obama's tax increases on America's small businesses cause them to have to lay off people, it would only be right for the employees who voted for this disaster to be some of the first to go. What better way to teach people that actions have consequences. By the way ... how plebian of you to use the "right wing hate" nonsense. To leftists such as yourself any expression of conservative thought is, by definition, "hate." That's pretty weak, don't you think?
Webguy and Cristina tell me that there has been one common theme throughout most of the emails lately .. and that would be wealth envy. Particularly the word "greed" .. a word that few people can actually define. No surprise that wealth envy is on the increase ... the Democrats are feeding it with every committee hearing and press avail.
Name: Adam Subject: the execs pay Sir; what you fail to realize is that they never deserved to make millions. The pay difference from reg worker to exec was always too much of a difference. We set their living standard way to high in the first place and now we are correcting it. There is no reason in this world of poverty and poor that one person should make millions and fly around on private jets while the loan officer doing the bulk of the work gets paid 40,000. The execs mind was never worth millions. Jesus. It is time for a more fair world. And i don't have wealth envy; i work two jobs and am well on my way to making well over 100 grand a year and I don't envy anyone. However, I am willing to give up some of my pay to help the less fortunate. You're all just a bunch of "greedy American." Thats why the rest of the world hates us. I love your show but disagree on a lot.
Name:dave davis Subject:digging you need to add greed to the topics to avoid. i love your show and usual objective views and insights of national issues. However,your attempts to defend greed make you sound naive. the deeper you dig,the sillier it sounds. quit digging.
Name:Catherine Jones subject:AIG Retention Bonuses I used to be a religious listener to your show. I thought it was fair and balanced and you called out both Republicians and Democrats when it was deserved. After the 2008 elections, I no longer listen because I think fair and balanced no longer applies to your show. I know you will read this and laugh and make a joke about my public education. BTW: I graduated from a state college also. You did too, right? I tried listening again today. I was happy to see that your show continues to be unfair and unbalanced. Where was your outrage when the auto union contracts were voided? Were these contracts less important or less legally binding than the AIG contracts? Or, is it that contracts for blue collar workers are not writen with the same legal "ink" as contracts for white collar workers? The auto unions decided that saving their company (and hopefully, their jobs) was in the best interest of everyone, including the United States of America. The AIG executives are indeed the face of greed. I am outraged that tax payer money went to "retain" greed oriented people. I just wish they had used their "smarts" for the good of more than just themselves. If the bailout had been put to a vote, I would vote to let AIG fail! That way everyone would suffer and not just the people at the botton of the economic totem pole. I have never called or written your show. I decided to write because you would just shouted me down and not given me chance to make my point if I had called.
Note: I'm not aware that any auto workers contracts were voided. Concessions were granted, but no contracts voided. If AIG wanted to void those contracts they could have done so .. through Bankruptcy Court.
... and I love it! This one is a bit lengthy, but I think you will enjoy.
Name: Christian Subject: Nationalized health care You should be ashamed of you're self!! You single minded selfish bigots. All you care about is Money and power! you're un accurate and one sided analysis of the national health care system in Great Britain is indicative of you scared selfish old men. Thanks god young America has woken up and are pushing you pathetic excuses for American's off you're soap boxes!
Of course the national health care systems in Europe are not perfect, as soon as one negative fact surfaces your type always make a big deal, but what about the bad things that happen with you're perfect private system, the kids that die because the Insurance companies will not pay for what they call experimental techniques or the 10's of millions that cant afford insurance, but have lived the American dream, bought a house or a car only to have it taken away to pay for a medical bill. Or just get substandard health care.
Oh but taxes will go up.... I pay over $700 a month for my wife and one child who are all healthy, are you going to tell the American people that our taxes wiull go up more than that, i earn $80'000 a year in my own small business. What happens if god forbid one of my family get sick, i loose my business and my insuranbce... I am doomed and so is my family. You think about the 100'00's of thousandfs that that has happened to as you sit in you're chair and preach you're Bull to us!!
Do you think the rest of the industrilsed world want Americans to get nationalized health care... Hell no the burden to US businesses for health care is what is keeping there companies from being competitive.
Tell us why US heath care is ranked by the WHO 37 just under Costa Rica .......You carry on lying and brain washing the American people. You pathetic excuse for a Human!!!
How could you possibly compare the social security system to Madoff as doing the same thing but only the SS is legal. My god you have went too far! With all going on now days your ratings are or must be growing high enough without such a insensitive statement so your in this for the money only to excite listeners. You are a perfect example of how greed has went too far in this world. Have you no real feelings for your fellow man?
This email needs absolutely no commentary from me. More than any other email I can remember ... this one speaks volumes all by itself.
Webguy and Cristina keep forwarding me these emails of people who still have their boxers in a bunch because I supposedly do not address Barack Obama by his proper title! Can I send a message to this crowd ... get some Armour All and buff up the wheels on your house. We'll leave the email exactly as he wrote it.
Name: dan williams Subject: disrespect neal i have a question for you and i need an answer from you on this. why is it that i listen to your show and hear you refer to the president of the united states you never address him by his proper title? is it because of lack of respect for the man or the office he now holds. i always liked you neal because you side with the police on certain issues and i've been a police officer for over 20yrs now. but i need an answer on this neal. and if you're not aware that you are doing this neal, have some respect for the office he holds even if you don't respect the man. i heard you call pres. bush by his title? you are on the clock neal.
We get dozens of emails every day with know-nothing upset because I don't say "President Barack Obama" or "President Obama" every single time I utter his name. Accepted journalistic standards dictate that you give the man his title at least once in a news story ... after that "Mr. Obama" and "Obama" are acceptable. No matter what he and his followers think, he is not a king. You folks need to find something else to gnash your teeth over.
This is the typical type of email I have been receiving lately. You've heard me talk about people who call up can complain every time I don't call Barack Obama "President Obama" .. Look, folks. It's in the AP style guide. You refer to the guy once as President Obama, and then after that you are free to call him Obama, Mr. Obama, etc. But here we go with the emails complaining that I am not a good American because I don't call him President Obama! We won't bother to edit this one ... that way you can get a clearer idea of the intellect that went with the comment:
Name: peter wilson Subject: your mouth!! When I emailed you last week I was stating that you should recognize that you have a president no matter what you say or think and he does deserve being addressed as such.You and your fellow sheep,hennity,limbough,who regularly say lies about the president have forgotten that the man has only been in power just over a month and is trying to get the country out of the hole your pal Bush dropped us in.Give the man a chance keep your mouth shut about him and support him as you should if you consider yourself a good american.This is not a racial thing,your the one who keeps harping on about racism,once again showing your ignorance.
Peter had to cut his email short because the delivery man from his local rent-to-own store showed up on his doorstep.
At work today I was talking with a man I work with when he started talking about all the things PresBO was going to do for us. I was working outside and he went into his office. You were on WDBO so I took a portable radio into the office, put it on your show and told him he needed to listen to you. About 45 minutes later he came out holding his head saying he had to stop listening because it was all making too much sense and he couldn't believe what was really happening to the country. One dose, 45 minutes and he now knows the painful truth.
I'll keep the radio for the next one I hear. Long time listener , Harold
I happened to listen to your radio broadcast this 2/12/09 and could not believe your MEAN mouthing and demeaning of our President of the United States. You are hateful and belong with the Big Mouth group of Limbaugh, Colvert, and Hannity - the meanest and most hateful people on TV. Hopefully, Debbie Stabenaw will get her way and get rid of all of you. Good Riddance and I will never listen to your BIG MOUTH again. Where you get your information must be the airways to the Devil.
you people are pitiful disgusting & sometimes funny.you lost the election,get over it.you said nothing about bush spending like crazy tht helped get us in ths mess so give our guy a chance to screw up,you did nothing to get the ball moving so sit on the side lines whr we put you & quit ur whining.socialism doesnt sound so bad to me,hell!it can't be no worst thn wht we had the last eight yrs.you also don't sound too intelligent always whining about those who want entitlements.you've been in ths world 63 yrs & im 54,you should know thr always hv been & will be those people as well as god said the poor will always be here.the more you rant & rave about thm the more they multiply.and you always call us democrate voters stupid.tell me ur excuse for puting & idiot in power for eight yrs.
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As you can see from those emails, more than a few of you were upset with my conversation with the construction worker last Friday. To recap: We had an out of work construction worker with six mouths to feed ... and he had made the decision to use the police power of government to seize someone else's property for his personal use. In other words .. he was on food stamps. 
This email from a listener over the weekend: