A "Grown Up Have" Responds To Ben Stein: You're Out Of Touch With America

[babylonsister]

http://crooksandliars.com/nicole-belle/grown-have-responds-ben-stein-youre-o

A "Grown Up Have" Responds To Ben Stein: You're Out Of Touch With America
By Nicole Belle
Video at link~

(h/t Paddy and Laffy at Political Carnival)


When I heard of Ben Stein's op-ed complaining about the expiration of the Bush tax cuts for the top 2% of wage earners, I had to physically force myself not to roll my eyes too far back into my head. Apparently, Linda McGibney, a producer for Stargate Universe on the SyFy Channel did too, and decided to put Stein in his place:

I am an American. I am in the highest tax bracket. I also work in entertainment - which is what Mr. Stein does as well.

I am fine with the tax increase. I think it patriotic that I am taxed in this way. I want to help my country.

I believe the fact that I can have a job this year, and hopefully every year to come, is a privilege.

Mr. Stein, there are Americans who qualify for this tax increase under the proposed plan who don't feel "punished" by it. We feel it is our duty in hard times to help the rest of America.

And I am not talking about charity; this isn't charity. We both give to charity, of our own choosing. Mr. Stein probably gives more than me.

This is about being a grown-up and accepting the fact that we made money during the bogus up-tick in the economy. We prospered. So did others in our ranks. A LOT.

Can I say A LOT one more time?

Now, it's time to help the rest of America.

Brava. Let us cheer for the grown ups in this debate, willing to look past their own entitled, selfish needs and understand that what makes us a civilized society is how we care for the least of us.

[Warren DeMontague]

1. Ben Stein thinks creationists are treated 'unfairly' by the scientific community.

Translation: Ben Stein is a fucking moron.

[Warren Stupidity]

5. thanks - saved me the trouble of pointing this out

Stein is a demonstrable idiot.

[wysimdnwyg]

2. Cheer!

I already think SG:U is one of the best shows on TV. This just gives me another reason to watch.

[yurbud]

3. we need to start putting two words together: wealthy crybabies

How would their lives be affected at all by paying slightly or even much higher taxes?

Would they have to sell a home?

A car?

Pull their kids out of private school or college?

Would they have to work overtime to feed their family?

No.

Beyond a certain point, more income is just about bragging rights with your frat brothers and feeling superior to everyone else. If someone has enough money that they never have to work another day in their life and neither will their kids, their kids kids, and their kids kids kids, they should just suck it up and pay.

[Scuba]

9. Nailed it.

[uncommon]

4. I love SGU - I hope she has a job for many, many years to come.

Also, excellent response.

[gratuitous]

6. Watch who gets invited to yak on the talk circuit

Will we see Ben Stein again, or will some producer somewhere pick up a phone and instead of speed-dialing Reactionaries R Us, actually call someone like Linda McGibney to present the majority view among the wealthy?

Gosh, my breath is bated!

[Indydem]

7. Oh the IRONY!

All three Stargate series have been filmed in Canada to avoid the higher costs of doing business in American facilities and dealing with American taxes.

As a producer, Ms McGibney, I challenge you to press MGM to move production of SGU to Los Angeles, employ unionized staff, and pay American taxes.

[The Uncola]

8. All true, no doubt...

.. but it doesn't change the fact the Stein is a greedy, selfish, whining asshat.

[marzipanni]

10. The more money the merrier....

Not.
How much money do you need to have a happier life? New research says you stop getting happier after you reach a salary of $75,000 a year. After that point, according to the study from Princeton, "life evaluations" level off.
http://www.thetakeaway.org/2010/sep/07/start-conversation-how-much-money-too-much

An interesting response-
http://bethink.org/diary/1247/how-much-money-is-too-much

[pacalo]

11. Beautifully said!

:applause:

[cilla4progress]

12. Hooray!

This is a voice I have been waiting for! Especially the part about patriotism. It's just like the outsourcers: what could be more UN patriotic? It's all about symbols for the RW - no substance.

Let her voice ring from all the hilltops and be heard far and wide across the countryside!

[SpiralHawk]

13. Chickenhawk Republicon shirkers do not want to pay their fair share

Chickenhawks like Stein are nothing but shirkers...

[Cowpunk]

14. A small thank you

...to Nicole for using correct grammar(You're). It gets so irritating.