In his inaction he differs from Orwell, who at least wrote about what he saw and in this way could be seen to influence world opinion, albeit in a subtle and satirical way.

It is worth considering Benjamin's defeatist and miserable view that the pain and suffering of the poor will always be inevitable (an 'unalterable law') in the light of our recent causes and campaigns. Yes, there will always to be poor populations and the rich seem to get ever-richer but what about huge triumphs such as the abolition of slavery or the prosecution of Nazi war criminals? In some ways, Benjamin seems to represent many of us, for example the types who sit in tea shops or bars ruminating on the ways of the world right up to this day. It would be nice to think that we hold a little more hope for a brighter future than he did.

On a basic level, I think that Orwell includes Benjamin to bring to light how some individuals simply choose to remain distinct from politics.  One of the conditions of the modern setting is that individuals have the ability to disengage from political reality.  Benjamin is an example of this.  He withdraws from the political fervor of the other animals, not really interested in the intense political change that envelops the farms and the other animals.  When other voice their optimism for the potential of what can be on a political level, Benjamin withdraws with some cynical attitude that others fail to heed or to comprehend.  Benjamin's only loyalty is to his friend Boxer, something that he thinks exists outside of the realm of political activity.

Orwell includes Benjamin to detail how some individuals refuse to involve themselves within political reality.  Yet, Orwell also shows that while individuals have this conscious choice, in some form, politics envelops everyone.  Benjamin deliberately chooses not to pursue a form of the political notion of the good.  However, he is the first to realize what is going to happen to Boxer when he is able to read the sign on the truck taking Boxer away.  He quickly acts, but it is too late.  This helps to bring Orwell's primary point to light in that while individuals may choose to disengage and not involve themselves with what is happening in the world, they do so at their own peril.  Benjamin realizes this too late.  In many respects, Benjamin is included to discuss how those who retreat from politics end up making it easier for those in the position of power to do what they want in a manner that discards and disregards the voice of the people.  Benjamin's inclusion in the text proves the saying that Ralph Nader was fond of mentioning in that "If you don't get turned on to politics, then politics will turn on you."  I think Orwell would agree with this and his inclusion of Benjamin proves this idea in the story.

Because it is a satire of the Soviet Union, Animal Farm uses its characters as representations of real-life figures. For example, Old Major represent Karl Marx, the originator of Communism. Orwell's position was that Marxist teachings always lead to dictatorships as ambitious people jockey for power, and this is best exemplified by Napoleon the pig. At first, he stays in the background, gathering power through subtle influence; his most important example of social organizing is the use of the sheep to shout slogans and drown out Snowball, making it seem like there is a united front against his ideas. However, Napoleon comes into his own when he appears with his private army of trained dogs, and takes total control of the farm.

Napoleon, with the dogs following him, now mounted on to the raised portion of the floor where Major had previously stood to deliver his speech. He announced that from now on the Sunday-morning Meetings would come to an end. They were unnecessary, he said, and wasted time. In future all questions relating to the working of the farm would be settled by a special committee of pigs, presided over by himself.
(Orwell, Animal Farm, george-orwell.org)

This is the first step towards marginalizing the other animals and raising pigs to a protected elite class, ruling and consuming without producing. In this manner, Napoleon mimics exactly the traits of humanity that Old Major decried, eventually walking on two legs and becoming all-but indistinguishable from humans. Napoleon's disregard for the central tenant of Animalism -- that all animals are equal -- echoes the inevitable beliefs of dictators, who make themselves and their friends into kings, while controlling workers with hunger, fear, and brutality.