Thread: We need to stop this entitlement society

When I step back and look at all the problems we're having, it can really be traced to the fact that many Americans look to the government to provide for them -- for everything -- their schooling, their healthcare, their retirement, etc.

You've got all these seniors, most of whom have been so conditioned to look to social security and Medicaid to save them -- I have to ask -- what did they do all their lives to arrive at old age so broke that they need the government to take care of their every need? I realize things do cost more, but really, we've all got to know that inflation continues and we need to prepare for it by saving. Many of them HAD to have had equity in their homes -- much more than we do now at this point.

And now we have illegals demanding that they receive all this assistance.

What we need is a president who will STOP this entitlement mentality in every single sector -- from education, to healthcare, to retirement to home ownership. I'm not even sure a President can stop it ... Americans, and all who come here need to know that if you want it, you're going to WORK for it. Same goes for ALL Americans.

We have become a country of helpless idiots -- no one wants to work, everyone wants loads of credit and material goods, without having to work for them. And everyone wants also to continue their bad habits of spending, mistreating their bodies, their families, getting divorces, et,c etc. Our lifestyles just COST so much.

I have seen this with many young people I know as well. All of them want the world for nothing.

And I think now most Americans are into this entitlement thinking, so the Democratic promises sound GREAT. Everyone feels the "super rich" can pay for them, and that everyone will have everything they want and need, without having to work for it.

Oh well -- sorry to rant, but I've never expected anything from anybody. I don't think for one minute I will be able to live on any social security I've got coming to me ...I just think about what Job I can get and how it will sustain me. I think about owning a home, so I'll have a place to live .. and working for it. I don't TAKE -- I work.

It seems you have the Americans who WORK, and then those who TAKE.

We've got to get more workers, and less takers. Not a small minority working and earning, and an increasing minority who takes.

Start with corporate subsidies and corporate welfare. They disproportionately consume greater tax payer dollars than simple social programs designed to help individuals - many of whom, have legally-protected claims to such assistance. Few corporate recipients of government tax breaks can say that.

Originally Posted by jjmm

When I step back and look at all the problems we're having, it can really be traced to the fact that many Americans look to the government to provide for them -- for everything -- their schooling, their healthcare, their retirement, etc.

You've got all these seniors, most of whom have been so conditioned to look to social security and Medicaid to save them -- I have to ask -- what did they do all their lives to arrive at old age so broke that they need the government to take care of their every need? I realize things do cost more, but really, we've all got to know that inflation continues and we need to prepare for it by saving. Many of them HAD to have had equity in their homes -- much more than we do now at this point.

And now we have illegals demanding that they receive all this assistance.

What we need is a president who will STOP this entitlement mentality in every single sector -- from education, to healthcare, to retirement to home ownership. I'm not even sure a President can stop it ... Americans, and all who come here need to know that if you want it, you're going to WORK for it. Same goes for ALL Americans.

We have become a country of helpless idiots -- no one wants to work, everyone wants loads of credit and material goods, without having to work for them. And everyone wants also to continue their bad habits of spending, mistreating their bodies, their families, getting divorces, et,c etc. Our lifestyles just COST so much.

I have seen this with many young people I know as well. All of them want the world for nothing.

And I think now most Americans are into this entitlement thinking, so the Democratic promises sound GREAT. Everyone feels the "super rich" can pay for them, and that everyone will have everything they want and need, without having to work for it.

Oh well -- sorry to rant, but I've never expected anything from anybody. I don't think for one minute I will be able to live on any social security I've got coming to me ...I just think about what Job I can get and how it will sustain me. I think about owning a home, so I'll have a place to live .. and working for it. I don't TAKE -- I work.

It seems you have the Americans who WORK, and then those who TAKE.

We've got to get more workers, and less takers. Not a small minority working and earning, and an increasing minority who takes.

I totally agree!

ITA also. Sounds like a job for Ron Paul.

Originally Posted by WhatMattersMost

ITA also. Sounds like a job for Ron Paul.

Ditto!!

You've got all these seniors, most of whom have been so conditioned to look to social security and Medicaid to save them -- I have to ask -- what did they do all their lives to arrive at old age so broke that they need the government to take care of their every need?

I happen to be one of the seniors that you dislike so much. The reason I have not provided for my retirement better is because the government took all money that I was trying to set aside. If you want to discuss social security, then the discussion should start with the implementation in 1935. In 1935 social security was set up as a retirement system for people of lower & middle income. In 1939 welfare was added to social security in the form of disability insurance. At some point this year social security will begin paying more for welfare than we are paying for retirement. You cannot run a retirement system with all this money being siphoned for welfare. I have been paying into this retirment system(social security) for over 60 years. I feel that this is a paid intitlement. It is not my fault that all this money is wasted on welfare.

You've got all these seniors, most of whom have been so conditioned to look to social security and Medicaid to save them -- I have to ask -- what did they do all their lives to arrive at old age so broke that they need the government to take care of their every need? I realize things do cost more, but really, we've all got to know that inflation continues and we need to prepare for it by saving. Many of them HAD to have had equity in their homes -- much more than we do now at this point.

I'm not even near retirement yet but you really need to rethink this. We have money taken out of our checks all of our working lives for social security and now we are not supposed to be able to use that money? Or use the equity in our homes that we worked and paid for(don't forget interest) in most instances all of our working lives? We would then be homeless. Where are our retirees or elderly supposed to get insurance? Do you realize how much medical insurance would cost if not for medicaid? Or how many hospitals would not get paid if seniors didn't have medicaid?

It is my opinion, that the 'benefits' vs. 'no benefits' PoV is essentially a false choice.

For one, many of the people now receiving benefits can not do so under current law. Just limiting benefits to those that are legally entitled to them, would make inroads into getting the cost situation under control.

Two, our larger priorities as a society factor in as well. Without digging up a theme which has been hammered on the boards here many times before, let me just make reference to and end with the term: 'foreign interventionism'. A lot more good can be done by cycling in/around of $300 million/day within the US economy, than to be poured into a one way pit overseas somewhere.

Three, our social welfare/benefit structure is actually quite a bit stingier than in many of the most advanced European and Asian societies; yet, those same economies are now stronger and growing faster than is ours.

So, in short, I'm writing to support txkayaker:

PS. Oh yeah, with the exception of an unemployment check for about 2-3 months in the past, I've never incurred a cost upon the local nor Federal taxpayer...

have to ask -- what did they do all their lives to arrive at old age so broke that they need the government to take care of their every need?

I'll just speak from my own experience. Because what good job I did have was downgraded to minimum wage. Right at major life points business closed down and you had to start over at square one....AGAIN. Because fathers and husbands didn't pay child support or care for a wife and children in any responsible means. Pensions were no longer a typical option....not enough money for life insurance policies and other affordable protections to plan for old age. What money I had put away for retirement was taken for medical bills. There was no extra money to put away because it took every penny to survive. I did work.....I paid into the plan. So did my parents. They planned everything to the best of their ability....yet every year there was another change....another means to take more and more away. I believe it has gotten too entitlement geared......but you can't make minimum wage and put away 15 years worth of retirement funds. When I went to college I paid my own way. It cost about 300 bucks a semester and books. My cut for rent and utilities for a house I shared with others girls was 50 bucks a month. No aid, no grants.....totally paid for. My parents died owing NOTHING yet if things would have continued on medically like they were for any period of time it would have been no time at all for the government to take the rest. There's just some things you can't plan for. Why is it in certain neighborhoods around me are they just targeting elderly with "housing codes" for a new roof or other major expenses when a rental dump can stand next door and get nothing? Comply or they take your home....when if they'd just wait 5 years they'd be dead ....but no....add that un-necessary burden at a time when they are limited in what they can do. They created a society to tear apart the family......people have adapted and now suddenly they want to change the rules? The government needs to make up their darn mind on alot of things if they want people to function within those boundries. I just know with the elderly....many CAN"T get out and work and they shouldn't be tossed to the wolves at their most vunerable time.

I know many EXPECT it but I wasn't raised that way. I just know when they change the rules mid-stream again.....it's those who really need, that get cut first and the elderly isn't the place to start those changes.

I also don't consider forced taxes for certain things taken from me for education etc. to be an "entitlement" when you already paid for it. We have lots of people who paid taxes to the school board who never had children.......granted maybe they need to be more realistic as to how far that money stretches and exactly what can be expected from those taxes but the whole idea of "free" education wasn't my idea. I'd have rather kept that money and educated my children myself. I didn't write the rules.....just tried to function within them. Even with "free" education I know I spent far more for my kids than my parents did and I got a 100% better education. The people handling the money need a reality check first.....before they take away more from those who have contributed their whole lives.