Some Words Inflame More Than Inform. The Age Of Entitlement Is An Example.

Words have tremendous power. They can teach, and inspire. They can also inflame and create fear. In this page we'll go over a word, or in this case a collection of words that has been twisted around to provide ammunition for opposing arguments, both of which affect human lives. Those words we feature today are "The Age of Entitlement."

Entitlement is a word that immediately produces reactions. It also leads to ultra-opinions from people who don't really understand the word and aren't sure why they are fighting a certain fight. But they are scared and emotions have been inflamed, which of course was the purpose all along.

Entitlement has become a derogatory term that has only one definition in some minds. It has come to symbolize somebody getting something they don't deserve because they didn't do any work or put in any effort to get it. Our job as accountable citizens is to be responsible for always looking for truth. When we begin with truth, we can solve any problem.

Lets begin that truth search with the definition of entitlement. Or rather, the definitions because there are several. This is a reason why so many don't fully understand the word and "The Age of Entitlement" began to circulate as a rallying cry between the two entrenched sides of the argument.

What Does Entitlement Mean?

There are three recognized definitions of entitlement. Two are straight forward, and the other is fairly abstract and can certainly be bent to conform to any agenda. They are in the following container block.  (Entitlement should not be included when describing someone expecting to get free money for bad choices or because politicians are pandering for votes.) 

Everyone reading that last container block would find truth in all three definitions if they looked closely at history and believed in the promise of the American Dream. The theoretical viewpoint of the Declaration of Independence states as follows:

An argument could be made that the age of entitlement began with that document. All people are entitled to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Nowhere in there does it read "the guarantee of happiness."

The legal definition is very straightforward. If there is a law or a contract that provides for a certain result, then the people affected by both are entitled to that result. Nothing wrong with that either. So far, this is easy. How could a fairly simple word lead to such acrimony and hand-wringing?

The last definition, budgetary entitlement, is also pretty clear. A certain amount of money is available to a specific group according to a law passed by Congress, because of their job to decide on appropriation of funds and then signed by the executive branch as is part of that job.

Here is an example. I was involved in the real estate business for many years. There is a government program available that pays the rent for some people who don't have the means to pay themselves. It isn't open-ended. There is only so much money appropriated and when it's gone, it gone for that entire year.

In the next section we'll give you a list of other words for entitlement. Those words aren't all accurate as synonyms, but they are part of what is creating this mentality of the age of entitlement.

Other Words For Entitlement

We hear so often about "rights." During election cycles, the term, rights, gets twisted around to suit political platforms. We hear of strengthening the middle class family and protecting the rights of parents.

Unless the political agenda is driven by cash, and all political agendas are driven by cash. Then parental rights don't apply if by blocking parental rights involving their minor children, entities that profit from life-altering procedures, entities that also contribute heavily to those politicians, can reap even bigger profits.

Entitlements are another big talking point for the two-headed monster that controls American politics. A perception has been created that suggests some entitlements are really just hand-outs to lazy people who want the government to support them.

The flip side argument is that such thinking is cruel and insensitive to the plight of disadvantaged people. Both sides will present examples to support their positions. Advertisements portraying illegal aliens receiving cash payments and free housing or worse, attacking innocent citizens. And on the other side, photos of very young children standing alone in a secluded spot, with no help. Neither of which solves any problems.

There is one more big question that is stressing out millions of people who are past age 50. Is Social Security an entitlement?

Social Security Is An Entitlement

Yes, social security is an entitlement. If it makes some politicians more comfortable to call it an insurance program, that's fine. But it fits the legal description that states a certain amount of work credits must be met to receive social security. It fits the theory that those people contributed to the fund for years when they worked so they are "entitled" to that money.

And it fits the last definition. It is a government program providing benefits to members of a specified group. There are other programs associated with social security and they are also entitlements. Some have work requirements, some don't. In this link you can read about two programs that are often confused, but affect millions of people.

The Age of Entitlement Is A Myth. The Problems Have Been Around For Years.

It would take pages to unwind all the problems associated with entitlement abuse, because they were created and ignored for decades. Social security is simply math. Working people contribute to the fund and it is paid out to the retired people. To bring in more money, create more jobs in America. Make more things here. Payrolls go up, as do funds withheld by law for the Social Security account. Making more things right here in America would solve many problems.

There is no new age of entitlement. Promises were made to working people and laws were enacted to provide for payment after they paid into the account for years. Entitlements in and of themselves are not bad things. When they are abused or manipulated, the abuse and manipulation needs to be stopped.

Yes, medical costs are depleting the funds needed to care for elderly people who depend on Medicaid. A united Congress could solve this problem too. But again, money talks and politicians walk.

Our job as accountable citizens is to learn the truth. We have to rise above the political rancor and solve problems. All problems are solvable when good ideas are encouraged, no matter where they originate.

We can't be confused by the pretty words that cover up injustice to innocent living humans.  And we can't be inflamed by the rhetoric that hides the truth.  It is our responsibility as American citizens to demand truth and honest action. 

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