Sometimes smart people say dumb things. Brilliant conservative commentator Ben Shapiro proved that axiom when he stirred up a hornet’s nest of angry responses on Wednesday for briefly chiding people who work two jobs as a self-induced “problem.”

Shapiro’s pointless criticism of those who are working the hardest at getting ahead struck listeners and critics as being condescending.

“If you had to work more than one job to have a roof over your head or food on the table,” he said, “you probably shouldn’t have taken the job that’s not paying you enough. That’d be a ‘you problem.’”

The hard-hearted comment came as an unnecessary, unscripted prelude to his rebuttal of a falsehood promoted by some liberals that low unemployment figures achieved during the Trump administration are the result of people working multiple jobs.

“Also it is not true that the vast majority of people in the United States are working two jobs,” said Shapiro. “It just is not true. According to census statistics, a small but steady number of workers have more than one job because either they need extra income or they want to gain more experience or explore different interests.

“There’s a recently released U.S. Census Bureau report, and apparently what it found is that approximately 8.3 percent … as of 2013, so it’s actually lower now … 8.3 percent of workers had more than one job,” he continued.

“So this notion that there are tons and tons of people who are working multiple jobs, it is not really true. It’s not actually the reality. In May, 5 percent of Americans had multiple jobs. Five percent. That’s really what’s bringing down the unemployment rate? Five percent of the workers who have multiple jobs?

“For all of the talk about people working at Uber, it’s held to that range since 2009,” Shapiro said. “It’s been a really, really low number. So this again is just a lie. It is also this bizarre idiocy that you can dictate to the economy what the economy ought to do. Every time everybody tries to dictate to the economy what it ought to do, the economy fights back because it turns out the aggregate knowledge of the market economy knows more than you do. I know–it’s shocking.”

Watch here …

Critics had nothing to say about the main thrust of Shapiro’s comments, but delighted in his criticism of those who do work multiple jobs.

Now I feel dumb. They offered me that big, high-paying job and I said ‘no, I’ll take two little ones please.’

— ★jakJONsun★ (@subjacktive) August 15, 2019

It’s simple. There are jobs that pay you enough to live and eat, and there are jobs that don’t. Stop taking the jobs that don’t, you morons! Why would you take a job that doesn’t pay you enough? What a dumbass move. Ben Shapiro is so smart! What a smart person! Smart. He’s smart! https://t.co/rm1QB4zG2O

— Ken Tremendous (@KenTremendous) August 14, 2019

This is what a spoiled rich kid says. So disconnected from reality because daddy paid his way.
Sometimes i feel sorry for how these people don’t truly know, nor understand real hard work. https://t.co/n9bHrnamCD

— ⚔️Kat Blaque⚔️ (@kat_blaque) August 14, 2019

It must be great to have been born into wealth,but it’s horrid to put down ppl who weren’t? U know nothing of ppl’s situations. My Police buddies who have families often have to work another job. They love serving but must make ends meet. Passion for policing. How sick u r

— Graycenotes? (@grayce_notes) August 15, 2019

Prob thinks slavery was a “you” problem as well

— david (@mailmandave10) August 14, 2019

You heard it here first, folks: if you can’t pay your bills with a single job, the answer is to not work at all until you get one that pays more.

This is the guy who thinks that people with waterfront property will be able to just sell their homes when sea level wipes them out. https://t.co/K1JPHZqkt2

— Parker Molloy (@ParkerMolloy) August 14, 2019

And when you find your smug elitist indifference to the struggles of working ppl didn’t save you from the Ring of Eternal Fire, cackling demons consuming your extremities as your tormented screams go unheard, Satan will softly hiss into your ear “this’d be a Ben Shapiro problem.” https://t.co/dHDdEgQN7T

— John Fugelsang (@JohnFugelsang) August 14, 2019

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Victor Rantala

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Victor Rantala is an Army vet who lives in Minnesota, he is a former intelligence analyst and business owner, and is an NRA Life member who is officially retired but has yet to slow his roll.

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