I Am SO F---ing Tired Of Hearing About The So-Called "Entitlement Mentality"

[kpete]

"Entitlement Mentality"

This morning, Fox News Sunday host Chris Wallace asked Alaska Republican senatorial candidate Joe Miller about recent data from the Census Bureau which found that a stagering one in seven or 43.6 million Americans are living in poverty, the highest level since 1994.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703440604575495670714069694.html?mod=WSJ_hpp_MIDDLENexttoWhatsNewsThird


MILLER: I think what you need to look at is the context. We have an extension of unemployment benefits several weeks ago, which is beyond what we had in the past in this country. What we have in this country is an entitlement mentality. It’s an entitlement, not just as individual but even at the state level… everything that fails the government should be involved in bailing out.

http://thinkprogress.org/2010/09/19/miller-ui-poverty/

.................................

TALK ABOUT ENTITLED!!!!!

Salaries and Benefits of US Congress Members
http://usgovinfo.about.com/od/uscongress/a/congresspay.htm

PERKS
Congressional compensation does not stop at their salaries. Members of Congress have plum health insurance plans, safe pensions and big budgets. Senate offices can be sweeping suites, with high ceilings, multiple rooms and even working fire places.

.................

When a member of the delegation needs to hop a flight back to New Hampshire for one of the weeks Congress is off, the government foots the bill – as long as it’s for business.

...................

They can park in special spots and lots reserved for them, or in any spot in the lots other customers pay to park in, including hourly lots, Hamilton said.

...................

Some perks have more to do with convenience than money. Members of Congress and their staffers only have to go to the basement of their office buildings to find banks, barber shops, post offices and even shoe shines – and all at a reasonable price.

...........................
http://www.bu.edu/washjocenter/newswire_pg/spring2009/stories/jorgensen/Perks.htm

and on and on and on and on:
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_are_the_unstated_perks_US_Senators_receive

[Fire1]

1. In this context, I agree with you. It does get old. n/t

[stray cat]

2. Nothing is free; we should help our neighbor but not expect only others to sacrifice to do it

if we care we need to sacrifice as well and just like many we want others to do the sacrificing because we don't want a cut in income either

[Hannah Bell]

8. congress is not sacrificing. let them go first.

neither are the leaders of top corps, nor the top 5% as a class.

[WinkyDink]

13. What are you talking about? Expecting the mega-rich to "sacrifice"?

[defendandprotect]

33. Social Security is paid for by employees and employers -- Government only administrates!!

Additionally, the balance of our safety net is paid for by taxpayers --

BEFORE it is needed. Any citizen collecting "safety net" benefits has likely

paid for those benefits long before they were needed.

CONGRESS NEESS TO SACRIFICE -- not the public --

Look at the White House Budget and Congressional budgets -- look at transportation costs

for elected officials -- private planes!

If we're in a "Great Recession" then White House and Congress should be acting like it!!

First 'SACRIFICE' should be ending two wars which have been bankrupting our Treasury!!


MAYBE WE NEED A NATIONAL DAY OF 'THANK YOU' TO THE PUBLIC TAXPAYER FOR FOOTING THE BILLS

FOR CONGRESSIONAL SALARIES/BENEFITS/PERKS AT LEAST ONCE A YEAR???

[Starry Messenger]

3. Poverty In California Continues To Rise

http://www.sacbee.com/2010/09/17/3036096/poverty-in-california-continues.html

Gather them together and California's poor would outnumber the population of Colorado – and their ranks are growing fast.

Since the start of the recession, 1.1 million additional Californians have fallen into poverty, including 300,000 children, according to new census figures released Wednesday. About 5.6 million Californians live below the poverty line, which is about $22,000 for a family of four.

The state's poverty rate grew from 12.7 percent during 2007 to 14.6 percent during 2008 and finally to 15.3 percent during 2009, the figures show. Nationally, the poverty rate increased from 13.2 percent during 2008 to 14.3 percent during 2009, the highest it has been since 1994.

In addition, 20 percent of Californians didn't have health insurance last year, up from 18.6 percent during 2008.

The census figures, which come out each summer and provide a bench mark for income and poverty in America, are estimates based on a nationwide survey of 78,000 households.

http://www.masslive.com/metrowest/republican/index.ssf?/base/news-28/128479420548520.xml&coll=1

Schools See Rise In Homeless Kids

CHICOPEE - The first day of school brought an unexpected increase in enrollment and more bad news about the increasing poverty rate among students.

Superintendent Richard W. Rege Jr. told the School Committee that the Sept. 7 opening day went smoothly. Most of the problems on the first day come from confusion over busing, and even those issues were fewer than usual.

The student population increased unexpectedly this year, with the total number at 7,874. The official enrollment totals are not tallied and submitted to the state until October.

"We are about 60 (students) above where we were last year," Rege told the School Committee.

But more troubling is the increase in the number of homeless children attending schools.

"We have 73 homeless kids registered," he said. "Most of these are kids in motels and hotels, they are not doubled up."

[BolivarianHero]

16. The highest since 1994..

Wasn't 1994 the tail end of years of GOP misrule?

They stupids get the governor's house and after a few years it happens again.

Things will only get MUCH worse if Calcutta Carly wins.

[Starry Messenger]

17. You mean Meg Whitman.

Carly is running for state senate against Boxer. It's easy to get them mixed up though, since they are like the crazy twins.

[BolivarianHero]

28. Oops sorry...

Fiorina is worse than Whitman, but I think Whitman would do more damage to CA as gov than Forina would as sen.

[defendandprotect]

34. End Poverty in California -- Upton Sinclair

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Upton_Sinclair

http://www.sfmuseum.org/hist1/sinclair.html

[w8liftinglady]

4. Me,Too....my latest ltte about entitlement-those bastards

As we have our little banter about politics,a real crisis is entrenching Texas. This tragedy didn't happen overnight,but is worsening as we turn our heads and ignore. It effects almost all walks of life,all races,all faiths. Yet we continue to praise the cause and ignore the cure.

Poverty in Texas has risen substantially between 2000 and 2009. The population living below the poverty level in 2000 was 14.9 percent ,or 3.4 million Texans. In 2009,it was 17.9 percent,or 5.2 million Texans. This number would have risen substantially had it not been for the large infusion of money from the Federal Government. For a family of four,the poverty level is approximately $21,000/year.
http://www.statehealthfacts.org/profileind.jsp?ind=14&cat=1&rgn=45

Unemployment in Texas has risen from 4 percent in 2000 to 8.9 percent in January 2010. That is the highest it has been since the oil field bust in 1984. Underemployment,or workers who have taken a cut in hours/pay due to economic reasons , has risen from 10.0 percent in 2000 to 17.9 percent in 2009. The areas that have seen the largest drops have been construction,manufacturing and trade,transport and utility companies.
http://www.cppp.org/files/8/423_SOWT.pdf

Texas,unfortunately,leads the nation in residents without health insurance. In 2000,we had 20 percent of the population between 18 and 64 with no health insurance. The last information available is from 2007. At that time,5.7 million Texans between 18 and 64 years of age had no health insurance.
http://www.census.gov/did/www/sahie/index.html
1.3 million residents under the age of 18 had no health insurance. That number would have been significantly larger,but 522,000 children are enrolled in CHIP.
http://www.hhsc.state.tx.us/research/CHIP/ChipRenewStatewide.html

Despite all these facts,Texas politicians continue to support policies that have accelerated these tragedies. They have supported tax breaks for the top 2 percent of citizens,despite two wars and increased poverty. They have fought against expanded health care for all Americans despite the support of over 70 percent of Americans and 14,000 physicians. They have supported exportation of American jobs and industry,despite the effects it has had at home.

We can choose to turn our heads and pretend this doesn't exist. We can keep the same destructive policies that are escalating this yearly. After 10 years,you would think our politicians would have acknowledged these destructive policies. Maybe it is time for Texans to consider some new representation. It isn't too late... yet.

[suston96]

5. Here is the entitlement mentality, Mr. Miller.......

...all those unemployed? Those millions of unemployed? Well, guess what. They were employed once. They were working at jobs that made people like you rich so that you can run for office and win a high paying entitlement - I mean job for yourself.

Workers are what made this country great and still do. They depend on their leaders to craft the economic environment that secure their jobs so they can depend on paychecks to support themselves and their families - and pay the taxes that in turn pay your salaries and in case you forgot - the unemployment taxes that pay for their own unemployment.

You get it, Mr. Miller? That's the entitlement workers are looking for. That job security and economic leadership that you and your ilkies don't want to talk about.

Get an education, Mr. Miller. Especially about the US Constitution. Check out the Preamble - especially the parts about the General Welfare and insuring Domestic Tranquility. Ever see pictures from the old days of mobs of unemployed roaming the streets looking for jobs and food?

Oh, and I almost forgot - the first three words - We, the People - you know, We, the workers, especially those of us who through no fault of our own, have lost our jobs.

Human beings are entitled to jobs ....jobs....jobs.....! Remember that just in case you win your entitlement - I mean your election.

[area51]

22. +1 n/t

[valerief]

6. Everything on Fox "News" is a lie. We should have banners from our homes

stating this. Neon signs stating this.

We need a 24/7 news stations that doesn't lie.

[Vinca]

7. I guess the Republican plan is to allow people to die from hunger in the streets.

Then they'd bitch about the need for pauper cemeteries. Maybe, oh maybe, if they hadn't tried their little trickle down experiment for the past few decades we'd be in better shape and not need so many "entitlements."

[kpete]

10. YEP!

we the people are in the way...
peace, kp

[66 dmhlt]

24. And Alaska is the FATTEST PIG at the trough

Talk about your entitlements ... "The New York Times" documents Alaska truly is the fattest pig at the trough:

No place benefits more from federal largess than this state.

For every $1 we give them in taxes - they give us back $5.76.

Alaska has received $3,145 per capita in federal stimulus dollars, the most in the nation, according to figures compiled by Pro Publica, an investigative Web site.

Source:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/19/business/19stimulus.html?pagewanted=all

[Art_from_Ark]

19. Bitching about pauper cemeteries....

http://gocomics.typepad.com/.a/6a00d8341c5f3053ef013485dc2183970c-800wi

[Vinca]

23. Amazing. I'm stealing jokes and I don't even know it.

:rofl:

[blogslut]

9. I have to wonder if "entitlement program" was on Newt's llittle word list

When exactly did the term "social service" get re-named to "entitlement program"?

[crim son]

11. If anybody suffers from a grotesque entitlement mentality

it's the very wealthy who have created this nightmare in the first place, and our too-comfortable representatives who no longer work for us, they work for their wallets.

[txlibdem]

26. Yes, and how dare you little peasants even think you deserve the same as the wealthy

Your role is to work till you can no longer stand, slave away, ask for nothing, expect nothing, receive nothing. And then die.

It is us wealthy rich true Americans who deserve the entitlements of paying hardly any taxes (on a percentage basis), getting all the benefits of laws and regulation (or lack thereof), etc.

:sarcasm: <--- in case any of you didn't really get it

[defendandprotect]

35. Welfare for the rich, free enterprise for the poor . . .

[WinkyDink]

12. It's the "Welfare Queen" in 21st C. garb, that's all. Same message.

[rfranklin]

32. Yes, except that it has been expanded to include virtually every American...

minus the deserving uber wealthy who "create jobs"....ooops! What jobs?

[midnight]

14. I'm equally tired of this attack on those who have been left behind,get bad mouthed as having an

entitlement problem.

[donheld]

15. Those who say that never seem to talk about the uber-wealthy

and their entitlement mentality. It only applies to us little people.

[csziggy]

18. How about the programs that benefit the rich? The SEC for starters

Protects the average investors - which means mostly the rich.

There are a lot of other publicly funded things that work more for the benefit of the rich and well to do than they do for working people. I don't just mean arts programs, but I've seen long lists of "entitlements" for the rich that the rest of really do not get any good out of.

[RandomThoughts]

20. as far as arts go, schooling music and arts has more positive impact.

The man hours of work to build a piece of art, and its uses over time are far more of a contribution, if available to many people, then many other actions that add thought and pleasure to society.

If money is given to build a museum, or art house, it supplements incomes for artists, if the people that select the art are not class orientated, and the art is available to many people.


Although I have not been to museums or art houses.

Honestly with production higher then demand, there are two options, get rid of the useless eaters, what some think is weeding out the undesirables, but only if ability to create money or luxury for a few is the goal.

Or give them access to money to raise demand, and create jobs doing anything, preferably things that help society.

Total up the total contributions in man hours of work of the average person, subtract from that the man hours of everything they use, averaged over the life time of the objects they use, and you can find the sustainable average standard of living, from there, the same excess consumption above that line will match the excess production below that line.

So how do you make the world better, make things that last longer, and have more added value to society.

The entire money distribution system is holding back society so that a few can try to have some kind of control or power.

To have power when you do not do what helps people, you have to keep people dumb and scared. If someone is lying to you on media, or trying to keep you scared, there is a reason for it, and it is not to help you.

[csziggy]

31. I meant to exclude museums and arts schools from my comments

Rather, I wanted to emphasize the institutions in our society that mostly protect the rich and their wealth and that do not do much for the average citizen. The SEC comes first to mind, but there are plenty more - I remember seeing a list of such institutions a while back. And many of those institutions are taxpayer supported rather than being paid for by the businesses that are regulated or the classes that are protected.

If you get right down to it, individually, the upper classes get more benefit out of law enforcement, many government agencies and even our elected representatives than the average person, even though every one of us pays taxes and has a vote. If an average person calls their Senator's office and asks for one on one time, chances are they will not get much more than a handshake if that. But if Bill Gates calls and asks for time, he will get it not only from his own state's Senators, but from any Senator in the country. Gates could probably request a session of Congress and get it, even though his vote should not count more than your or mine.

[Iterate]

21. This is quite good news.

Since Mr. Miller has so bravely spoken out against unemployment I assume he favors employment and surely would be over the moon with a full employment economy.

It's not like there isn't plenty of work to be done. By my watch we have about ten or twenty years to replace the entire energy and transportation sector before that business turns all pear-shaped. A few cities need to be rebuilt, a spill to mop up, and all those mountaintops need to be put back. We have the whole coal industry that needs to be shut down and cleaned up. Sorry Kenny, but at least you'll have a job thanks to Mr. Miller. Frankly, there seems to be so much work to be done it seems burdensome.

Plus we have those ongoing projects, like feeding Mr. Miller's eight children good wholesome food, and educating them to the best standards. God knows that lot will need it. Mrs. Miller (sorry, Kathleen Tompkins-Miller) is a school teacher, so she should understand. For some reason she felt the need she for a second job by being appointed to the Alaska Judicial Council.

That brings up an interesting point: one job per adult should be sufficient. That probably means doubling the minimum wage so that the hard working poor can concentrate on simply working hard.

A whole cascade of consequences would seem to follow from Mr. Miller's pro-employment stance. I'm sure you can imagine so many more, like renegotiated trade deals based on equitable and mutually beneficial trade, but I'd like to point out another, that one being something Bill Clinton reminded us of: full employment brings in a gusher of money into the treasury and that can't hurt.

And selfishly, I would hope there could be enough poured into the treasury that no one would mind my being entitled to a little spot under a bridge somewhere without having to pay rent for it. That's all I would ask.

[SammyWinstonJack]

25. +1

:thumbsup:

[COLGATE4]

27. These RW Teabagging assholes aren't even original. All they do is

is recycle shit from previous Rethug campaigns. This meme is just Ronnie Raygun's 'Welfare Queen' dragged out and warmed over. All the anti-immigrant shit is nothing more than the same White Supremacist warcry, just that now they can only whisper rather than shout "Nigger" - it's Willie Horton Version 2010. Same shit - different 5 lb. bag.

[Deep13]

29. It is so hypocritical.

It's always those who have the most, often by inheritance, that role out this tired sound bite. Meanwhile, the ultra-rich parasitic class are turning this country into their own private fiefdom and and complain about socialism when they don't get their way.

Anytime anyone claims that the problem is that poor people have too much money, it should immediately discredit the claim and open up the one making it to ridicule and derision.

[blindpig]

30. kick

[librechik]

36. Wait--didn't Joe Miller accept farm subsidies? Who's entitled now?

http://www.alaskadispatch.com/blogs/political-animal/6841-did-alaskas-joe-miller-accept-federal-farm-subsidies

looks like he did, tho someone on his campaign denies it. I wonder why he was in the database then?

[katty]

37. Soc Security is PAID FOR by employee, employers-this isn't

some FREE RIDE

[cynzke]

38. Government Workers

Starting to see (here and there) right-wing venom aimed at government employees too. Painted as lazy, overpaid fat cats. Gee, here you are, average joe, lucky enough to land a better paying government job, and right-wing is trying to convince voters you're part of government waste/entitlement. Kiss your government/good salary jobs goodbye.