Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

TahitiNut

(71,611 posts)
19. Yes, an 'entitlement' is an interest or perquisite that exists solely by virtue of law.
Sun May 13, 2012, 12:09 PM
May 2012

Without question, any 'right' or 'interest' or 'ownership' or 'privilege' that is solely a creature of government fiat, law, and the state enforcement thereof is an entitlement.

More interesting to me is the degree to which right-wingers (whigs) are invested in virtually every entitlement ever invented by man, including title to intangible property (e.g. stock, bonds, derivatives), title to tangible property (e.g. two Cadillacs), title to real property, titles of inheritance, and authoritarian/autocratic titles such as CEO, Prince, Duke (Cunningham?), King (Saud?), or even Fellow. Absolutely none of these exist in Nature and few exist in equity. The notion that we can leave 'our' Real Estate unattended and even unvisited and rely upon police state powers to ensure that our entitlement to the use or disposition of that real estate at all times in the future is so ordinary that we fail to recall Pennsylvania as an entitlement conferred upon William Penn by the King of England (who never himself acquired those lands under their then-existing laws or conventions) to all lands between two latitudes and extending west to a then-unlimited extent. Indeed, even the parceling out of the western hemisphere to the titled heads of England, France, and Spain by the Pope was an entitlement.

The entitlement of the aristocracy to rape any bride in their domain on her wedding night is another example.

What I believe 'offends' the reich-wing is not an entitlement per se, but that the hoi polloi has any entitlement. God forbid that the government create and enforce any right or privilege to which a poor person can benefit!!

What a fuckling morally bankrupt thing to be: Republican.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

Great bumper sticker! "Crazy can’t be reasoned with. Only defeated." DontTreadOnMe May 2012 #1
Unfortunately, Repukes would take it as a rallying cry longship May 2012 #3
By trying to reason with crazy, you legitimize it. malthaussen May 2012 #2
But social security IS an entitlement... OneTenthofOnePercent May 2012 #5
Social security is an earned benefit gratuitous May 2012 #6
Yes, it's paid into and earned by the recpient. It's their money that they are entitled to... OneTenthofOnePercent May 2012 #9
In conservative-speak malthaussen May 2012 #7
Then conservatives are wrong and should be called out on it. OneTenthofOnePercent May 2012 #10
That is the point, isn't it? malthaussen May 2012 #15
Yes, an 'entitlement' is an interest or perquisite that exists solely by virtue of law. TahitiNut May 2012 #19
Good analysis. ewagner May 2012 #8
Malthaussen? Stainless May 2012 #12
It's a misspelling, but not of Mauthausen malthaussen May 2012 #13
Interestingly TahitiNut May 2012 #21
Anyone who quotes Veblen gets a handshake from me malthaussen May 2012 #23
He was a genius. TahitiNut May 2012 #29
John D. MacDonald's character malthaussen May 2012 #30
When beliefs are not founded in fact... no facts can persuade them otherwise. OneTenthofOnePercent May 2012 #4
yup, that is the crux of it. BlancheSplanchnik May 2012 #16
I became aware of this insidious process malthaussen May 2012 #18
I saw a poster of it in a bookstore and had to have it... OneTenthofOnePercent May 2012 #27
They're merely demonstrating the strength of their Faith. TahitiNut May 2012 #22
Well, the Apostle Thomas is a Saint malthaussen May 2012 #24
They aren't going to come back to reality, are they? We have to move ahead without them. freshwest May 2012 #11
K/R. NYC_SKP May 2012 #14
Sarah Palin, Secessionist, AK, was no mistake. nt patrice May 2012 #17
Don't hear enough about this FACT in the 'liberal media'. jp11 May 2012 #20
You cannot argue with a crazy person felix_numinous May 2012 #25
If by crazy tama May 2012 #26
My grandfather always said daligirl519 May 2012 #28
Latest Discussions»General Discussion»Crazy can’t be reasoned w...»Reply #19