Over the last decade the concept and term of entitlement has been all but stripped of its original meaning. Being entitled was something bestowed upon someone, in which a right or claim was earned. Most commonly this was accomplished through a verbal or written contract.
Recent propaganda has focused on the emergence of a feeling of entitlement rather than on the functional reality of being entitled. In this way entitlement has been reduced to a quality of those who are spoiled and pampered, and who expect things without earning them.
Discussions and exposes abound in which spoiled children and lazy adults just expect a high standard of living to be handed to them. This is rebuffed by tired admonitions such as “there is no free lunch.” Yet, in all these discussions the difference between true and imagined entitlement is never addressed. This has allowed many people to equate the term entitlement with a unreasonable and spoiled demand from the lazy and immature.
So, when a corporation complains that it is drowning in a sea of entitlements from ex and current employees they are capitalizing on the image of lazy workers passively expecting money for nothing. When they talk of their inability to pay out their retirement plans they succeed in casting the labor unions and workers as greedy overly “entitled” lazy hordes who are trying to get something for nothing. Likewise, Social Security is the biggest “entitlement” program our government is saddled with. An entitlement which our grand and great-grandchildren will have to pay off, while simultaneously depriving them of a decent life.
What is missing in all this propagandic hyperbole is the functional reality of entitlement in modern society. In a capitalistic society almost every human transaction involves some form of entitlement, where a verbal agreement or tacit contract is formed.
When I got to a restaurant and order a meal the proprietor of the eatery is “entitled” to the money he charges me for the meal. At my job I am entitled to receive pay for services provided to my employer. The bank which loans me money is “entitled” to payment of the principle plus interest as was agreed upon. Feeling entitled gives you no rights or legal claim. Yet, when it comes to functional interactions in the real world, actual entitlement accompanies most transactions.
Our government and corporations are fond of bewailing the social safety net aspects of social security and health care benefits. Often trying to make them sound socialistic in nature and as a contaminate to free market capitalism.
Yet, the fact of the matter is that our corporations and government created these contracts with employees and citizens as a proposed fair exchange. These benefits were given to us in exchange for our hard work and services. Instead of money up front, money was taken from our pay checks and put into social security and retirement plans. Job benefits such as medical and dental were offered us in exchange for actual pay. These entitlements were in the spirit of true entitlement. They were contractual rights and claims which were bestowed upon us in exchange for our toil and services.
These deferred payments were a boon to the corporations and government. Our entitlements cut down on their immediate overhead and allowed them to invest, expand and grow at an accelerated pace.
Yet, now our receiving of these promised contractual entitlements is being painted as an unfair hardship urged on by the whimperings of a spoiled society.
In truth much of the discussion regarding entitlements in our culture would be better framed in terms of people, corporations and governmental agencies honoring their contracts. Especially those contracts that were fully and publically discussed.
Sure there are many unread and fine print dominated contracts which could and probably should be contested. Yet, let’s not let the purveyors of this sort of deception and manipulation prevent us from recognizing and honoring the more straightforward entitlements that were articulated and continue to be articulated in plain sight.
Here are some lyrics of a recent song which touches on some similar themes. The recording of this song will not be done for many months. So, in the meantime go to the music section of this site to check out many of my songs and lyrics.
Svengali 6/24/08
Molders of mass point of view
Keenly distort and confuse
Bait us to take up a side
Divert our eyes from the light
We could all be such kind human beings
We could create a caring society
But they will tell you its only a pipe dream
Kill or be killed is the only reality
Conmen must first win your trust
Proving their case is a plus
Protecting you from foreign harm
They’ll rob your home take the farm
Slogans come easy to the quite sleazy
Making promises they don’t plan to keep
Yet they then scare you with bad men soon coming
Then they will blind you with fanciful history
Molders of mass point of view
Keenly distort and confuse
Bait us to take up a side
Divert our eyes from the prize
We could all be such kind human beings
We could create a caring society
But they will tell you its only a pipe dream
Killing for freedom is their warped reality
Conmen vying for our hearts and minds
Endless spying and invading private lives
Can you see what’s happening?
Can you see ambition’s their only friend?
We are all lab rats in their great experiment
They try to actualize their plan for eugenics
Can you see what’s happening?
Can you see who’s your real friend?
Can you feel the danger we’re in?
Can you see what’s happening?
Jim Guido