The Conservative Cave
Current Events => The DUmpster => Topic started by: GOBUCKS on April 09, 2014, 04:07:39 PM
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Thanks to the brain-dead DUmmy kpete. Her copy-and-paste OPs are almost uniformly boring as hell, but this one hits the spot.
Ben Stein is a keen observer of democrat habits.
Wed Apr 9, 2014, 09:43 AM
Star Member kpete (42,406 posts)
Ben Stein: "The wealthy are actually good for democracy-The poor are jealous, lazy drunks"
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.â€
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the rest:
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/04/09/ben-stein-poor-people-are-jealous-lazy-drunks-who-dont-appreciate-indoor-plumbing/
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024798516
Response to kpete (Original post)
Wed Apr 9, 2014, 09:52 AM
Star Member deutsey (17,770 posts)
7. What a repugnant, classist weasel
I knew this cretin was in the Nixon White House, but I had no idea he was such a virulent, dyed-in-the-wool reactionary.
These quotes of his really piss me off, but at least they articulate how the elites really feel about all us unwashed masses without the smiley face of Reaganism masking it
Response to kpete (Original post)
Wed Apr 9, 2014, 09:53 AM
Star Member Lizzie Poppet (3,927 posts)
8. In many cases, those "causes" Stein lists are symptoms, just like poverty.
Symptoms of a dysfunctional economy, an inequitable society, etc., that is. While there certainly are plenty of self-sabotaging people, Stein's idea that they are the majority derives from thinking firmly rooted in a past that's a good three decades or more old. Back then, the playing field was at least a little closer to level (especially if you were white...).
Nowadays, a person can do everything "right" and still end up scrambling for survival. Such persons are no longer anomalies, they are a very substantial minority...and one that's growing every day as more and more capital is hoarded by a tiny few. Stein's worldview is obsolete.
Our former friend, the effeminate DUmmy Laelth:
Response to kpete (Original post)
Wed Apr 9, 2014, 10:33 AM
Star Member Laelth (19,321 posts)
29. Ben Stein sux. He has always sucked.
He will always suck. I hate giving him exposure by re-printing his name and kicking this thread on DU, but I couldn't resist. He sux.
Anything here sound familiar?
Response to kpete (Original post)
Wed Apr 9, 2014, 12:10 PM
Star Member hfojvt (34,112 posts)
41. I've actually heard that on DU more than once
that I am just jealous of some rich "liberal" like George Clooney, or Thomas Hanks, or Ron Howard, or some hard-working union man like Thomas Brady.
I think though, we should admit that there IS a lumpen-proletariat. That some people are self-destructive that way, and are NOT hard working or virtuous - not honest, not reliable, not kind or generous.
And on the other side that there are some talented, driven, and hard working people who are fairly well off. Certainly I would say that my parents are that way. Not members of the top 1%, much less top 0.1% or 0.000001%. But, thanks to kind of a lucky real estate purchase, members of the top 10%.
But in spite of that, our society should have the resources to keep people from starving or dying because of lack of simple medical care or being homeless.
Response to kpete (Original post)
Wed Apr 9, 2014, 03:52 PM
Star Member frylock (22,480 posts)
42. i can't even watch ferris bueller because of this pompous shitbag
"Ferris Bueller's Day Off" - Ben Stein has a tiny role in a great comedy movie.
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What a hoot... a DUmmy accusing someone else of being "classist".
I guess that road is only supposed to go one way.
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Level playing field to a DUmmie means.....everyone one is broke, equally poor, no chance to change their situation.
Level playing field to me means.....I've had my chance at getting rich now I want my son to have an equal chance in life, not held back by liberal government anti-success laws.
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What an excellent analysis by Stein. Absolutely spot on.
Star Member Lizzie Poppet (3,928 posts)
8. In many cases, those "causes" Stein lists are symptoms, just like poverty.
Sure they're symptoms. Symptoms of people unwilling to do anything beyond the bare minimum with their lives. Because they are categorically unwilling to pay the price needed to get ahead, it is my firm belief that they should get what they deserve; namely a life of poverty and misery.
ultra-rich wealth hoarders might well be on their way to an object lesson in the "we are many, they are few" principle once people have finally had enough. Not an outcome Stein's likely to enjoy...
Nope.
You zipperheads are just malcontents yammering away on a message board. I've been reading about your pending revolutions for over a decade now. Ain't gonna happen.
You'll just have to be happy with your bitching. In the meantime, if you need a few bucks, I'll see if I need someone to wash my car this weekend.
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“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.â€
Stein Says Poverty Caused By Self Sabotage (http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/04/09/ben-stein-poor-people-are-jealous-lazy-drunks-who-dont-appreciate-indoor-plumbing/)
As I said, absolutely spot on. Most poor people are their own worst enemy, period.
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Ben Stein: "The wealthy are actually good for democracy-The poor are jealous, lazy drunks"
Still waiting for pitt to chime in and claim Stein is wrong. Is 24 business hours time enough for him to sober up and respond?
:lmao:
CMD
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I bet the Comedy Central show 'Win Ben Stein's Money' still pisses them off, even though it has been off the air for a decade.
A. ) Stein is smarter than most primitives combined.
B. ) The 'evil 1%er' Stein was willing to risk his paycheck on that. ( Ben's paycheck for the season was whatever was left of the prize budget )
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What an excellent analysis by Stein. Absolutely spot on.
Sure they're symptoms. Symptoms of people unwilling to do anything beyond the bare minimum with their lives. Because they are categorically unwilling to pay the price needed to get ahead, it is my firm belief that they should get what they deserve; namely a life of poverty and misery.
Nope.
You zipperheads are just malcontents yammering away on a message board. I've been reading about your pending revolutions for over a decade now. Ain't gonna happen.
You'll just have to be happy with your bitching. In the meantime, if you need a few bucks, I'll see if I need someone to wash my car this weekend.
Better empty the change from your cupholder and hide the hubcaps first.
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I would also add that some people are deliberately stupid, and wear it as a badge of honor. They're incurious about the world around them, and enjoy the state of being dumb. They refuse to ponder consequences, unintended or otherwise.
All those people that drew unemployment for two years now have an embarrassing and difficult-to-explain resume gap. Did they not think about this? Apparently not.
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I would also add that some people are deliberately stupid, and wear it as a badge of honor. They're incurious about the world around them, and enjoy the state of being dumb. They refuse to ponder consequences, unintended or otherwise.
All those people that drew unemployment for two years now have an embarrassing and difficult-to-explain resume gap. Did they not think about this? Apparently not.
Some people only want to work long enough to draw unemployment.
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As I've said before, if I can manage to be doing OK by my age, anyone can manage it. I grew up in a poor farm family...what would be called a share-cropper since my parents didn't own the farm. I was driving tractor when I was 10, and driving to town for parts by the time I was 12. I married, divorced, and went back to college with 3 kids. My first job out of college was for minimum wage, a quarter an hour less than I made cleaning at the animal shelter on weekends.
Now we have about 10 acres, a nice house, a good income, a retirement fund. It took 30 years, but that's about the right timing. And I did overcome some fairly major disasters during those years, but kept going. I didn't drink or smoke, or use drugs. I paid bills first and pinched every penny. I learned to fix my house, fix my cars, and do what was needed to get ahead.
Every single person I know that has gone nowhere in life has made the choices to end that way. They used drugs or drank all their money. They got an education but never used it, remaining in the comfortable life the government provided. They even ate their way onto disability. I don't know anyone that completely failed at life without choosing to do so. (Not to say they don't exist, but they are few and far between.) The flat fact, both from Ben Stein's view and from the view of working past it all...most poor people earn their poverty.
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Every single person I know that has gone nowhere in life has made the choices to end that way. They used drugs or drank all their money. They got an education but never used it, remaining in the comfortable life the government provided. They even ate their way onto disability. I don't know anyone that completely failed at life without choosing to do so. (Not to say they don't exist, but they are few and far between.) The flat fact, both from Ben Stein's view and from the view of working past it all...most poor people earn their poverty.
This.
H5, BTW.
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“Drug use. Drunkenness. Having children without a family structure. Gambling. Poor work habits. Disastrously unfortunate appearance
That's a good description of roughly 90% of the people you see at a Indian Casino.
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Every single person I know that has gone nowhere in life has made the choices to end that way. They used drugs or drank all their money. They got an education but never used it, remaining in the comfortable life the government provided. They even ate their way onto disability. I don't know anyone that completely failed at life without choosing to do so. (Not to say they don't exist, but they are few and far between.) The flat fact, both from Ben Stein's view and from the view of working past it all...most poor people earn their poverty.
Exactly.
Consciously or unconsciously, they made those choices, and are where they are, because that's where they really want to be.
Life is often a merciless mirror that reflects our inner thought patterns.
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I was on his show once. Was an awesome experience.
And yes, he's every bit as intelligent, articulate, and intense as he appears to be on television.
One of my personal heroes.
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I was on his show once. Was an awesome experience.
And yes, he's every bit as intelligent, articulate, and intense as he appears to be on television.
One of my personal heroes.
His show? Win Ben Stein's Money? :cheersmate:
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I was on his show once. Was an awesome experience.
H5 for that! That's too cool
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Wow! I'm so impressed! How did you do? Who was the sidekick, the chick or Jimmy Kimmel?