Ben Stein: Poor People Are Jealous, Lazy Drunks Who Don’t Appreciate Indoor Plumbing -RawStory

[WillyT]

Ben Stein: Poor people are jealous, lazy drunks who don’t appreciate indoor plumbing
By Travis Gettys - RawStory
Wednesday, April 9, 2014 9:17 EDT



<snip>

Conservative pundit Ben Stein suggested that only government-sanctioned religion could save poor Americans from their own “self-sabotage,” reported Right Wing Watch.

“What will make the genuinely poor stop sabotaging themselves?” the actor and TV host asked Friday in The American Spectator. “Maybe, just maybe, if we let God back into the public forum it would help. I have seen spiritual solutions work miracles.”

Stein argued that anyone concerned about wealth inequality was just jealous of billionaires, whom he described as necessary and beneficial to American society.

“They fund symphonies and ballets and schools for inner city kids,” he argued, while recovering from an illness and listening to Big Band music. “They are a bulwark against tyranny because they can afford lawyers to fight overweening government.”

The wealthy are actually good for democracy, Stein argued. “We want for there to be a high number of rich people who function as a brake on government just as the nobles did on the crown in long ago England,” he said.

On the other hand, Stein argued, poor people dragged down society with their slovenly habits and appearance.

“My humble observation is that most long-term poverty is caused by self-sabotage by individuals,” he argued. “Drug use. Drunkenness. Having children without a family structure. Gambling. Poor work habits. Disastrously unfortunate appearance. Above all, and counted in the preceding list, psychological problems (very much including basic laziness) cause people to be unemployed, have poor or no work habits, and enter and stay in poverty.”

<snip>

More: http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/04/09/ben-stein-poor-people-are-jealous-lazy-drunks-who-dont-appreciate-indoor-plumbing/

[SummerSnow]

1. And Conservatives claim they have no hate.

[Politicalboi]

2. I wish someone would

Win ALL of Ben Stein's money so he can see what it's like to be poor.

[whathehell]

3. Bem Stein is a nasty, judgemental little man..

Unlike him, I'd prefer a high level of government to function as a "brake" on Wealth.

[Tom Ripley]

4. He's a professional toady who has worked himself up to a job in the manse

[Blue Owl]

5. Benghazi.... Benghazi... Benghazi...

Gotta admit -- Ben Stein has the perfect "Benghazi" voice...

[grilled onions]

6. If He Only Knew Some Poor People

One cannot judge without knowing. I have seen many poor who appreciate the "finer" things in life--getting a little raise,having enough food on the table that the kids can have seconds,paying bills on time. They are not lazy,greedy or jealous. They are survivors. They do not have the time to judge the rich nor the energy to be jealous of anyone. Having an extra bar of soap, a full box of diapers is worth it's weight in gold. Those who do not walk in their shoes should not be so high and mighty. The higher one is the farther they can fall. Mr. Ben would have a long way to fall and he's already sunk to a new low.

[tavernier]

8. Perfect

[JHB]

7. And just what has he "humbly observed"?

How close and how often? And when?

[Gothmog]

9. Ben Stein is an idiot

This is what one would expect of Ben Stein

[MrScorpio]

10. Calling oneself a "Conservative" is nothing more than a handy excuse to be a complete asshole. nt

[spanone]

11. 'poor people dragged down society with their slovenly habits and appearance' so ben is poor, eh?

[KamaAina]

12. Looks like someone cleaned up on "Win Ben Stein's Brains"

[bullwinkle428]

14. I think the lucky winner was David Brooks!

[SomethingFishy]

13. Well when a pathetic has been who's only claims to fame are speaking the words

Bueller, Bueller, and a short stint as a used car salesman.. I mean game show host, tries to tell me anything he gets filed in the "clueless moron" category.