“’paid into the system’ is cliche, not literal”
Cliches can be taken literally; I think you mean a figure of speech. Most people, I think, mean that phrase literally. That’s how cliches usually become cliches: by being excepted as true for a long time.
I don’t know why I was supposed to guess you were being facetious, especially since the prima facie meaning fit your use of it as justification for grabbing government goodies.
I did not write the article nor did I post it. I understand the point of the article and understand where the author is coming from. We tax payers have paid into the system (and yes I say it again)but we will get none of it because it's going to others who are taking advantage of it. Some say they are actually the smart ones. I can see their point also.
I saw a taker on my way to work. A Somali in a Lexus with LIVE TV playing in his nice expensive car on the backs of the front seats for the rear passengers to watch. They were probably on their way to the casino to gamble off the money I'm going to work to pay for. That IS a system. A system that is no friend of America. A system developed to work against you and me. But it is a system. It's working as planned and Obama's going to tweek it to work even "better".
As far as my so called "justification for grabbing government goodies". I justified nothing. You may have noticed that I understood the reasons why we should NOT jump on the taker wagon. One of them being that one is limited to what he can make, and dreams and goals are shattered by grabbing government goodies. That is no justification unless you have no dreams or goals in life.
My job brings me to the poor sections once a month. That's where I get to see all of the new hi-tech gadgets comng out, satellite TV on every roof and the latest car models.
The whole point is that the whole SYSTEM is working against prosperity. That's the point.
Instead of attacking others on the same team, it's time to target the issues.