The destructive effects of our pervasive sense of entitlement

What about people who bitch about gas prices?

You cut me to the quick. That would be me.

Oddly the whole entitlement argument is wrongly used by conservatives against the poor, but really its the rich with the greatest sense of entitlement.

The feel they and their children are entitled to a way of life not shared by the rest.

some won't like it but wrote:

The rich feel they are entitled to a way of life not shared by the rest.

Almost. Just replace "are entitled to" with "have earned" and you've got it nailed!

Why don't we just all mind our own business and not worry about what anyone can do for anyone? People should make transactions that benefit them. If a transaction benefits both parties, it will occur. If not, it shouldn't. There's no need to do anything for anyone because we can all get along just fine by minding our own business and doing what's best for ourselves.

In fact, the best thing that everyone in the country could do for the nation as a whole would be to simply take care of themselves. If everyone took care of themselves, we wouldn't need to worry so much about what the country could do for us.

some won't like it but wrote:

Oddly the whole entitlement argument is wrongly used by conservatives against the poor, but really its the rich with the greatest sense of entitlement.

The feel they and their children are entitled to a way of life not shared by the rest.

I think the wealthy do not like financing others sense of entitlement: middle class well fare. I understand all of the arguments against big bank CEOs. However, many of our millionaires are true revolutionaries: Virgin, Apple, Boeing, nanotechnology, material developments.

Companies like the above are doing something much better for the country with innovation than their tax dollars could do.

take care of yourself wrote:

Why don't we just all mind our own business and not worry about what anyone can do for anyone? People should make transactions that benefit them. If a transaction benefits both parties, it will occur. If not, it shouldn't. There's no need to do anything for anyone because we can all get along just fine by minding our own business and doing what's best for ourselves.

In fact, the best thing that everyone in the country could do for the nation as a whole would be to simply take care of themselves. If everyone took care of themselves, we wouldn't need to worry so much about what the country could do for us.

Many people take care of themselves at the expense of others.

Just about right wrote:

take care of yourself wrote:

Why don't we just all mind our own business and not worry about what anyone can do for anyone? People should make transactions that benefit them. If a transaction benefits both parties, it will occur. If not, it shouldn't. There's no need to do anything for anyone because we can all get along just fine by minding our own business and doing what's best for ourselves.

In fact, the best thing that everyone in the country could do for the nation as a whole would be to simply take care of themselves. If everyone took care of themselves, we wouldn't need to worry so much about what the country could do for us.

Many people take care of themselves at the expense of others.

And many take care of others at the expense of themselves. But it's not the government's job to tell them to do that.

Ask the rest of the world about the destructive effects of the pervasive American sense of entitlement.

What exactly is it that you want people to do for their country?

Also, do you think that they didn't have poor relief and complaints about tax rates in the 1960s? Both of those things are described in the Bible.

Ever hear of the tragedy of the commons?

take care of yourself wrote:

Why don't we just all mind our own business and not worry about what anyone can do for anyone? People should make transactions that benefit them. If a transaction benefits both parties, it will occur. If not, it shouldn't. There's no need to do anything for anyone because we can all get along just fine by minding our own business and doing what's best for ourselves.

In fact, the best thing that everyone in the country could do for the nation as a whole would be to simply take care of themselves. If everyone took care of themselves, we wouldn't need to worry so much about what the country could do for us.

Shuffle papers, work for the corrupt courts, wack off in a government job... All those people think they are WORKING HARD....

They seem to be the ones b*tching about entitlements the most, and they are grossly overpaid babies. Same with the WallStreet jerk wads, making money like a freaking auction house in World of Warcraft. A f'ing fantasy system where they can overlord over hard working people, or the poor on government assistance.

Aghast wrote:

Ever hear of the tragedy of the commons?

take care of yourself wrote:

Why don't we just all mind our own business and not worry about what anyone can do for anyone? People should make transactions that benefit them. If a transaction benefits both parties, it will occur. If not, it shouldn't. There's no need to do anything for anyone because we can all get along just fine by minding our own business and doing what's best for ourselves.

In fact, the best thing that everyone in the country could do for the nation as a whole would be to simply take care of themselves. If everyone took care of themselves, we wouldn't need to worry so much about what the country could do for us.

The tragedy of the commons refers to what can happen in the absence of property rights. For example if farmers share grazing land they may allow over-grazing to occur. Fisherman may fish excessively as the ocean isn't owned (this seems to be happening).

You ARE morally entitled to your own money. What you're not entitled to is anything provided at the expense of others.

No entitlements, but no sacrifices either.

Aghast wrote:

Ever hear of the tragedy of the commons?

Yeah, it's cynical bullsh*t. Life isn't tragic. Success and happiness are possible when the government leaves us alone.

people have never been more unselfish than today.

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ggg wrote:

people have never been more unselfish than today.

happiness wrote:

Yeah, it's cynical bullsh*t. Life isn't tragic. Success and happiness are possible when the government leaves us alone.

It seems a bit immature to say your life would be better if the government didnt exist. You can say life might be better if government was smaller, but to say government does nothing but reduce your and everyone else's seccess and happiness is a little ignorant. Do you think your and everyone else's lives would really be better without a transportation system, without some idea of the safety of consumer products, without building codes, without a police force, without a standard currency, without city planning, without schools, without a standardized electrical power grid etc etc?

I'm all for people voicing their opinions on how they would specifically like to see the government downsize (whether or not I would agree with it), but to say the government should just "leave you alone" make one sound like a kid who just wants more candy. If you want to cut budget items, list the items, their recoupable costs, and what we would be sacrificing by cutting them. That's the only reasonable way a productive decision can be made. Anything else is sort of just partisan banter.

/soap box