I do think that conservatives bristling over the ‘give me a job’ line is a bit of an over reaction.
It’s a matter of simple semantics. Nobody would think a thing about someone saying, “he gave me a job.”
But, in casual conversation, someone said, “I earned a job,” it comes across as somewhat arrogant.
A job is *work*. It’s not charity. But by acknowledging that someone has the power to give you a job, your saying that they didn’t have to. The *opportunity* to work is a gift.
If someone says, “I’d like someone to give me a job,” they’re just speaking common English. That’s what people say.
I told my first Principal, years ago before she retired: “Thank you for giving me a job”. She said: “I didn’t give you a job; you earned your job.” I shall never forget that.