I keep seeing the phrase "Entitlement Reform" over and over and over...
It seems that it is "common beltway wisdom" that these are carved-in-stone NECCESSARY to make sure our country doesn't fall into the "fiscal abyss" or the [insert your own favorite purple-prose talking point here].
I believe that there is a side to "Entitlement Reform" that has not really made it's way into the minds of the jabbering class and, therefore the minds of the public.
It's not entirely coincidental that the constant full-throated attacks on the current "entitlements" [cough - "insurance"] programs such as Unemployment Benefits, Social Security, Medicaid and other social programs that benefit the 99%ers doesn't leave any quiet time for reflection on the implications of the phrase "Entitlement" itself.
What, for instance, is the 1% cadre "entitled" to that we might opt to amend?
They get to control elections via the $ spent in purchasing access to or outright ownership of members of Congress and [particularly good investments] LOCAL politicians.
They get to, therefore, control the tax and subsidy policies that are cast into law at their bidding or even authorship.
They are, by law, ENTITLED: to lower tax burdens than breathing people; to enjoy no liability for malfeasance or criminal activity [can you say Wall Street], again unlike sweating people; to be bathed in government largess in the form of free leases and subsidies to encourage them to invest in their industry [oil and gas] even though they are the most profitable industry ever known on the face of the planet; to be immune from income taxes they find inconvenient [Caymans]; et al.
THIS 1%er set of "entitlements" is constantly trumpeted as being absolutely vital to the interest and economic health of the "country" and of "all" its citizens. Yet, as far as I can see, there are too many breathing and sweating citizens who are, in fact, not being helped by these 1%er entitlements which are held absolutely sacrosanct while the few Federally funded programs that the 99%ers, can use to feed and clothe themselves [heating is optional this week] are savaged by the bi-partisan deficit hawks.
There are more "representatives" of our government who screech that more control of the application of the country's laws must be given back to the "sovereign" states in order to break the grip of the tyrannical fist of the Federal Government [voting rights et al]. This sounds all wonderfully patriotic, flag pin and all, especially to those of the South who already lost a war to force this policy [and are incidentally still fighting it today].
Which entitlements do you think will be cut? The ones "Due" the 1% or the ones desparately vital to the 99%?
I'd like to see a discussion of the 1%er's "Entitlements" on the national stage.
I must go to work so will read your comments later. Sorry for the driveby but I had to get this off my chest.
This is a meme waiting for an audience, "Entitlement Reform for the 1%"