Stephen Colbert: Solve housing slump by living next to gay people
by
David Edwards and Muriel Kane
(Via RAW STORY) -
Stephen Colbert reported earlier this week that "a disturbing new study has found a solution to the housing slump. Live next to gay people." According to "the Bohemian-Gay Index" used in the study, "Artistic, Bohemian, and Gay populations increase housing values in the neighborhoods and communities they inhabit."
"I guess people these days want a house with a view of some goateed beatnik playing his bongos while he smokes a clove cigarette and chisels a sculpture of k.d. Lang," said Colbert.
"The theory is," Colbert continued, "Tolerant communities ... nurture an open-minded culture of creativity which can lead to innovations like Google, or YouTube, or ShirtlessHunks-BaggingGroceries.com -- which will exist in (brief pause) now."
Colbert was then joined by the study's author, Richard Florida. "Is being tolerant good for economics?" asked Colbert. "I thought the free market was 'I've got mine, Jack.'"
"It's the 60's that started it," said Florida. "All of this interesting revolution in culture happened ... and then we saw the economy boom."
"How do you know they're well off because they're tolerant?" Colbert asked. "Maybe they're tolerant because they're well off. Because if I've got some extra cash, I don't mind what Harry and Larry are doing down the street, okay. But if I'm poor, I feel threatened by everything."
"Both are probably true," agreed Florida.
The following video is from Comedy Central's Colbert Report, broadcast on July 16.
(Via