|
MrRodgers -> RE: Budget differences - Define "Entitlement" & "Obligation" (7/29/2011 2:34:25 PM)
|
quote:
ORIGINAL: gaybottomslave
quote:
ORIGINAL: Fightdirecto
How we define a term or a word makes a big difference in a rational discussion.
I participate on vanilla Internet discussion boards on the topics of Politics & Religion as well as this one.
On one, I posted my concern that, if the government went into default, my Army retirement check (I served 27 years combined active Army and Army Reserves) and my military disability check (hearing loss due to an exploding IED) might be affected.
One self-identified Tea Party supporter responded that my Army retirement check and my military disability checks were "entitlements" and not "obligations". The poster took the position that military retirement checks and military disability checks were the same as welfare checks and should be eliminated as part of the overall plan to reduce "big government" and "excessive government spending".
I contend that my Army retirement checks and my disability checks are "obligations" on the part of the federal government based on the contract I made with the United States for my 27 years of military service.
I acknowledge that this individual, though they claim to be a Tea Party member, may not reflect the general position of all Tea Party members.
In the context of federal government expenditures, do you define retirement checks and medical disability checks to military and civilian federal government employees "entitlements" or "obligations"?
An entitlement is something that no work or effort is needed to abtain but those receiving said entitlement think that they deserve it nonetheless and that it can never be cut or reduced, see: medicaid, medicare, welfare in general, etc.
An obligation is what the government has to spend: food/equipment/pay for the militaries, maintaining of federal highways/infastructure, etc.
If I had my way, the federal government would be involved in: National defense, space exploration, border security, foreign diplomacy and maintaining of infastructure both roads and communications and that's about it.
This even though there is a box on paychecks labeled 'Medicare ?'
Entitlement is a term conjured up by the right wing capitalist/corporatist propagandists. They have very successfully introduced and instilled this word into all such basic discussions through their influence (purchase) of media and mostly right wing politicians.
As Lincoln warned 'playing upon the prejudices of the people.' So you never hear of the capitalist entitlements like govt. run single payer govt. insurance for banks and investors. You never hear of farm and ethanol subsidies called 'entitlements.' You never hear of the immorally favorable treatment of capital gains and carried interests in our tax code...whatever they are...as entitlements but yet, they are just that.
The discouraging and hypocritical aspect is...the capitalist/corporatists actually do believe they are 'entitled.' They were 'entitled' to TARP. They were really 'entitled' to bonuses. See how easy it is to feel just so...entitled ?
|
|
|
|
