Posted on 03/21/2017 3:54:05 AM PDT by Kaslin
All addictions -- whether to drugs, alcohol, gambling, sex or cigarettes -- are very hard to escape.
There is one addiction, however, that may be more difficult than any other to escape, in part because it is not even regarded as an addiction. It is entitlements addiction, the addiction to getting something for nothing.
One indication as to the power of entitlements addiction is the fact that while great numbers of people have voluntarily given up drugs, alcohol, gambling, etc. -- almost always at great pain -- few give up an addiction to entitlements. For the majority of able-bodied people who get cash payments, food stamps, subsidized housing, free or subsidized health insurance, and other welfare benefits, the thought of giving up any one of those and beginning to pay for them with their own earned money is as hard as giving up alcohol is for an alcoholic.
Politicians know this, which is why it is close to impossible to ever reduce entitlements. And, of course, the left knows this, which is why the left almost always wins a debate over entitlements. Every American who is the beneficiary of an entitlement backs them, and many who are not beneficiaries of entitlements would like to be.
Aside from ideology, this is why the left constantly seeks to increase entitlements. The more people receiving government benefits, the more people vote left.
In this sense, the left in every country -- in America, the Democratic Party -- should literally be regarded as a drug dealer. Virtually every American given a free benefit becomes an addict who relies more and more on his dealer, which is exactly what the left seeks.
As noted at the outset, one reason entitlements addiction is so powerful is unlike other addictions, it is not regarded as an addiction. As a result, few entitlement addicts see themselves as addicted. Why, then, would any of them seek treatment? To the entitlement addict, receiving entitlements is as natural and uncontroversial as breathing air. Air is free, and so are entitlements.
Another reason entitlements addiction is unique among addictions is that very few drug, alcohol or gambling addicts believe that they are owed drugs, alcohol or their gambling debts. Entitlement addicts, on the other hand, believe that society owes them every entitlement they receive -- and often more. The very word "entitlement" conveys the message that the recipient has a right to the benefits. So there is a moral component for entitlement addicts that does not exist among other addicts (except for opioid dependents, who are in pain; these patients really are owed painkillers, and society is immoral for not allowing them to receive them).
Not only do entitlement addicts believe there is moral virtue to their addiction but so do a vast number of non-addicts known as progressives. They believe that there is a moral imperative to give people more and more entitlements. This, in turn, feeds the moral self-image of those dependent on entitlements.
Yet another reason for the uniqueness of entitlements addiction is it ultimately does more damage to society than any other addiction. Other addicts can ruin their own lives and those of loved ones, and drunk drivers kill and maim people. But society as a whole can survive their addictions. That is not the case with entitlement addicts. The more people who receive and come to depend on entitlements, the sooner society will collapse economically. Society does not directly pay for drug addicts' drugs, alcoholics' alcohol or gamblers' gambling debts, but it pays every penny for entitlement addicts' addiction. In fact, the current U.S. national debt is about equal to the reported $22 trillion this country has spent on entitlement programs in the last 50 years.
When you combine the addiction and selfishness of many (certainly not all) of those who are dependent on entitlements (including middle- and upper-class Americans who receive a home mortgage deduction); the tendency for the addiction to grow from one generation to the next; the dependence of one of the two major political parties on the votes of those who receive entitlements for the party's very existence; and the belief of tens of millions of non-addicted progressives that society is morally obligated to give more and more people more and more entitlements, it becomes very difficult to see a solution.
In the meantime, the entitlement state in every country is failing, forcing them to bring in tens of millions of migrants -- many of whom share none of the countries' values -- to keep the entitlement state alive.
This addiction ultimately ruins the character of many of its recipients, the economy of all the countries in which it exists in large numbers and the value system that created the prosperity that made so many entitlements possible in the first place.
But other than American conservatives, almost no one even recognizes it as a major problem, let alone an addiction.
And the two most abused nowadays are SSI Disability and SSI for kids under 18.
He didn’t bring up Social Security and Medicare by name. Those are the textbook “entitlements,” because they are not “something for nothing,” but “something for something.” People have been forced to contribute to these programs, and so even the most conservative believe they are “entitled” to the benefits.
The way to reform the system, in my opinion, is to give as many people as possible refunds of what they have paid in, with the freedom to invest as they choose.
Hurry up and break the nation financial consequences should weigh on some of their’s sense of existence. Some well placed adds of Venezuela, Zimbabwe or Flint Chian may reach some grabbers attention. The rest ?well that’s plan b when they come knocking.
In Germany as far as I know, when children get ssi it has to be strictly used for the children.
There are two types entitlements. The money for free ones like ssi welfare and food stamps and a second which are substitution for expenses like subsidized health care and the mortgage interest deduction. The substitution entitlements are indirect subsidies to business kind of a two fer. They like the author suggests pay for other things like smart phones and vehicles one may not afford without the subsidy. Good luck trying to pry any of these away sans the gov declaring insolvency.
Great read! Hit the nail right on the head.
Eliminating the entitlements might be the best way to “Make America Great Again” and is soooooooooooooooooooooooooooo badly needed. Few remember the days when if you don’t work, you don’t eat, it was that simple. The demodummies figured out long ago by giving everything to the “Gibsmedats” (black, white, make no difference) you will get their votes. No one has ever come up with a irrevocable cure.
Yes entitlement is a huge addiction and not usually seen as an addiction, but the worst addiction of all and where all others stem from is IDOLATRY - allowing ourself to idolize or want or be enticed into prioritizing (focusing a lot of attention on or believing we need to be involved with) some thing not rightly ours (entitlements) or some one (our self, “king” obama will help us, government as our source, plenty more examples).
One cannot have any addiction (or sin) with out idolatry at the root.
I wholeheartedly agree with you that Social Security & Medicare are not “Something for nothing”, which is contrary to many conservatives, many here on FR, that place them in the category of freebees.
The problem with returning monies paid into that system, is returning the money to those already retired (as in 62 or older) is it will not last long at all, and for those in there 70’s or 80’s, there would be zero refund.
Retired folks had this money taken from them with the promise of a monthly check upon retirement. It would be wrong to just take it away, as these folks never had the opportunity to invest that money in 401K’s so it would grow during their working years.
I’m one of those that depend on it. I do have other income sources, but to lose it would really hurt. There are those that rely solely SS.
The most evil government schemes of all. Built on the backs of dead Americans.
I agree. People who are currently depending on their SS benefits and those who are near retirement should be continued in the present system: they do not have time to do something else.
However, although it would be very expensive to do a one-time buyout for those under 50 (just to throw out a number), something of this nature is the only solution. The alternative is a Greek-style crash, only there's no EU to bail out the US.
Entitlements = getting something for nothing??
Paying into social security all your working life is nothing?
I know several people who went on SSI for dubious reasons. They all have “under the table” jobs. Any rumor about needing to re-apply for SSI sends them over the edge. One of them barricaded himself into his house because he thought the federal government spotted him in his tree stand during hunting season and was going to cut off his disability.
I had a pastor quit on me for a retreat because he thought government was watching him when he applied for disability.
But there is a difference between “confined to a wheelchair” SSI and “riding your bike to the pool where you work for a free membership” SSI. The latter is an insult to the former.
But other than American conservatives, almost no one even recognizes it as a major problem, let alone an addiction.
It’s a myth that there is any sort of system underlying SS past taking money from today’s workers and giving it to today’s recipients. SS is an income transfer. It takes today and gives today. Not that our government hasn’t created the illusion of a formal pension system because it has and people allow themselves to be deluded into accepting it.
SS is an entitlement.
It is like drugs indeed. Cut it and the masses revolt for their fix. Democrats want to keep people dumb and dependent.
Another aspect of it is this insidious welfare state globalism. People do not migrate to get to more competitive places, but to get to where the best welfare is available. Algerians getting welfare in Algeria are known to go to Europe for an upgrade. That is their only reason.
SS is indeed entitlement. Paying someone to not work and be dumb again.
The genius of Dennis Prager. His videos at PragerU are short, to the point, thought provoking, and can change minds of low info Americans who believe the mainstream crap due to osmosis.
I remember believing the mainstream liberal crap in college, and my grandfather was a politically active conservative retired guy in Palm Springs. Once when I went down to stay with him, at happy hour he started railing about how Medicare didn’t cover all his medical needs, making him (fairly well off) have to buy a supplemental coverage. See? A hardcore conservative, addicted to an entitlement completely unaware of his addiction. Even then I saw the hypocrisy.
There are a lot of ‘disabled’ people who could work, part time, if not full time.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.