Why ‘entitlement’ programs aren’t really entitlements

daily caller ^ | 1-21-13 | jim huffman

[TurboZamboni]

Almost everyone seems to agree that some combination of Social Security reform, Medicare reform and Medicaid reform is essential to any long-term fix of the federal government’s fiscal woes. But few in Washington are prepared to face the political challenges of such reform. Perhaps it would help if we stopped calling these federally financed benefits “entitlements.”

In any legal sense of the term, Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid are not entitlements. Unlike public employee pensions, which are contractual obligations now threatening to bankrupt state and local governments, Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid benefits can be modified, or even eliminated, by a majority vote of both houses of Congress along with the president’s signature. They are benefits, not entitlements.

[Arm_Bears]

If they’re not entitlements, getting rid of them shouldn’t be a problem then.

[Viking2002]

They aren't entitlements; they are, as H.L. Mencken once said, 'an advance sale of stolen goods'.......!

"But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: for men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away, for his name is Obama."

[Graewoulf]

Communist Tyrant Hussein Obama began his second illegal regime yesterday.

Tyrant Obama seeks revenge, and has the Democrats pledged to support his continued destruction of the United States of America.

GAME ON Obama, GAME ON !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[USNBandit]

The big problem will be that people pay into Social Security and Medicare.

[cripplecreek]

It doesn’t matter what we call them because right now they’re a tar baby that keeps us tied up and prevents us from cutting hundreds of billions elsewhere.

[doc1019]

I’m still trying to figure out why those on “entitlement” programs are entitled?

[Viking2002]

I honestly don't see a true American Restoration that'll manifest itself out of the smoke and fog this time. I just honestly don't. I wish I could. But.......no.

"But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: for men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away, for his name is Obama."

[dfwgator]

Entitlements = Bribing us with our own money.

[griswold3]

Yes, and like any other ordinary tax, it goes into the General Fund never to be seen again.

[TurboZamboni]

You can’t spend your way out of debt anymore than you can regulate your way to freedom.

The only way that they are going to cut spending is to reign in entitlements.

[spel_grammer_an_punct_polise]

I would like to know where the word ‘entitlements’ came from. They used to be called ‘welfare’ but then the communists in government came up with the catch-word, ‘entitlements’.

Are free food stamps, free housing, cell-phones entitlements, for example?

[cherry]

those of us who have been taxed with SS and Medicare taxes for decades are expecting it to be there....

on the other hand govt workers have given little if anything to their lavish retirements....

now let me see......you going to screw the poor slob who gets on average $1200 a month or are you going to screw the govt retiree who gets probable averaging $5000 a month?...

[cherry]

SS/Medicare are not welfare.....they are entitlements in that they have been paid for....much like one pays for an annuity or life insurance....you pay in ...its a contract whether our govt elite cheats want to admit it or not......

[RightField]

I think the term "entitlements" came into being because these kinds of laws - food stamps, welfare, and other give-aways - are supposedly based upon certain criteria. Once an applicant meets those criteria, they are "entitled" to receive the benefit.

Supposedly, the criteria have been set so as to determine "real need."

Obama and the Dems keep lowering the criteria so that more and more Americans are "entitled" to benefits.

[Myrddin]

Medicare is a tax. Social security was billed as a retirement funded from payroll tax and accrued to your social security number. You should get a return of the present value of principal taken from your paycheck over the years as a bare minimum.

[Terabitten]

I would like to know where the word ‘entitlements’ came from. They used to be called ‘welfare’ but then the communists in government came up with the catch-word, ‘entitlements’. It comes from the way the laws are worded. "Any person who, having reached age 62 blah blah blah, shall be entitled..."

[Terabitten]

With all due respect, do you have any idea how these programs really work?

[Viking2002]

They won't. As we were warned over two centuries ago, the ever-increasing majority has found a way to vote itself largesse from the public treasury, and the vermin empowered by them will stop at nothing to prevent stanching the bleeding from that domestic teat. We, my friend, are beyond the event horizon of that black hole to try and reverse course now. We are well and truly screwed, and those who think that we'll all suddenly wake up one morning to a world imbued with a sudden sense of human sanity are as dangerous as those who are preying and feeding upon us.

"But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: for men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away, for his name is Obama."

[i_robot73]

No, they are a taxed wrapped in verbiage to make the B.S. go down easier.

They are 1) Unconstitutional 2) Taxes. Just because you willingly stuck your head in the sand ‘expecting yours’ does not make them any different.

Welcome to the Ponzi scheme of government promises; shame you didn’t get in on the ground floor.