Where does this come from???

[ImaGuyGeek]

Okay, serious question and let's not make this political.

There is an ever increasing sense of entitlement in this country. It seems prevalent in younger people and I can't for the life of me understand it or where it comes from.

For our teachers: Is it being taught in schools?
Parents: Are we teaching this to our children? If so, is anyone out there doing this on purpose?
Younger members: Where does this come from? Do you fell "Entitled" and if so WHY?

I don't understand.

We as Americans are entitled to more than most in this world but that entitlement is limited to "Life, Liberty and The Pursuit of Happiness". The rest comes through hard work and making the most of the 3 I just mentioned.

entitlement

1 a : the state or condition of being entitled : right b : a right to benefits specified especially by law or contract
2 : a government program providing benefits to members of a specified group; also : funds supporting or distributed by such a program
3 : belief that one is deserving of or entitled to certain privileges

[PhishPhreek]

"I'm from the Government and I'm here to help you"

Last year we raised XXX for our favorite charity so this year we need to raise more. I'm still waiting for someone to say "Enough"

It's all because we gave women the vote !

[wesleydnunder]

I think it comes from lawyers, politicians and programs like the welfare system.

The only things I feel entitled to are my VA benefits and social security. The first I paid for with six years of service. The second I've been making payments to since 1976.

In reality I'm not entitled to either, they're handshake agreements I made with the government. For that matter no one is "entitled" to the so-called inalienable rights you listed. What "right" to life does a man have who's drowning in the ocean; will the water harken to his cries? Is a mother cat's right inalienable if she has to die to save her kittens? If two men are trapped in the mountains and cannibalism is the only way for one of them to survive, who lives?..and which one's right was inalienable?

I'll tackle liberty and pursuit of happiness another time.

Mark

[myjohnson]

Cause we don't slap your kids around anymore.

[TaTeR ToT]

[JStrider]

maybe because we are telling our children they are unique and special when the reality is they aren't.

also a lot of parents seem to shower their children with things to keep the kid happy.

[Mzungu]

Cause we don't slap your kids around anymore.

Laugh all you want, but to tell the truth, that's the first thing that popped into my head. (No pun intended)

Not necessarily "slapping them around." But we truly do spoil our kids much more than previously...

[SteveCGG]

I agree....parents today want their kids to have more than they did, which is great, but the kids grow up thinking they should get everything they want no matter what. Parents rarely punish their kids or make them accountable for anything. If a kid gets a $50K car for a 16th birthday , but can't graduate from school or college, probably can't afford to buy themselves a $50K car but thinks they should have one anyway. So they finance something they can't afford, default on the loan, and expect the rest of us to pay for it, cuz they are entitled to something nice!

[fshfrk]

Some people deserve and the rest of us have to work for their deserve. Now Traci please ban me from this thread only.

[JStrider]

Cause we don't slap your kids around anymore.

http://www.ajc.com/news/gwinnett/man-slaps-strangers-crying-129235.html

[FrontosaurusRex]

As a "younger" member on here, I'd have to strongly agree that it is the parents fault that kids feel entitled these days. My brother and I grew up in a house where both parents worked like crazy to provide us with just about anything we wanted but we were always taught that these items weren't free. I see kids as young as 5 years old demanding treats or toys from mom and dad, and nobody puts a stop to it. I have a made a vow to never let my daughter act like that. I plan on raising her very old-school so maybe she wont grow up and act like a spoiled brat. We should set up punishment system for bad parents....you dont raise your kids right...you start losing fingers....LOL.

[ImaGuyGeek]

I agree that a lot of the culpability falls on parents. i see a move in parents not wanting to be "Parents" but "Friends" to their children. I just can't see this as the only factor though, and this is not just a problem with younger people.

So we have consensus on the parental influence. I think there is a societal influence as well. With all this "We can't hurt anyone's FEEEEEELLLLINGS!" nonsense. The push to eliminate competition and the equalization (more like wussification) of everyone so nobody FEEEEEEELLLLLLS bad.

I think this quote sums it up. "You are not special. You are not a beautiful or unique snowflake. You're the same decaying organic matter as everything else."

[myjohnson]

I have feelings of entitlement.

My gal should cook and clean.

[J-WS6]

Because parents are obviously not teaching their children the value of hard work or money. I got my first job when I was 14, and have worked ever since. Whatever happened to "..with hard work, there's reward" ?. Now, it's just rewards for everyone, at anyone's expense regardless of how hard you work, or if you even work. I believe some of this entitlement mentality falls under this stupid-a$$ political correctness of what's "fair". It's disgusting.

In case some of you have forgotten, "Life ain't fair."

[stevenallenbarnard]

late to the party, as usual, but here goeas anywayy..........................

First of all, what kind of entitlement are we talking about? Who feels entitled to what? This is an extremely vague topic. When I go to work everyday I like I'm supposed to I feel entitled to my paycheck at the end of the month. The only thing that anyone is entitled to is their own opinion. After that, it's nothing but concessions. Life, Liberty and the pursuit of happiness are just a bunch of words that some dead guys came up with a couple hundred years ago when they were trying to invent a new form of government. They are not entitlements, they're rights. There is a difference. Is voting considered an entitlement? I hear this word entitlement a lot (especially when the guy at the desk next to mine chooses to listen to a certain portly, oxycontin addicted radio talk show host who shall remain nameless at this time). I gues it all comes down to money. If I order a pizza and pay in advanced with my credit card, then I feel entitled to my pizza. wouldn't you?????? Now I know we are supposed to not let this get political, but lately that is nearly the only context we hear this word used. Lately it has been used to polarize people across different sides of the political spectrum. Being the lone Democrat in an office of conservatives, I often hear people say things like, "people who recieve government assistance feel that they are entitled to a handout." and "so and so feels entitled to affordable medical coverage." and so on and so on. Do I feel entitled to affordable medical coverage? No, but this is America, and we have the ability to provide affordable medical coverage to all of our citizens. Are people who are unable to provide for their familys entitled to things like foodstamps and welfare? No, but as a society we realized a long time ago that when people get really desperate, they will do desperate, irrational things (like stealing money or food to provide for their families.) DO I believe that every person is entitled to a good education? No, but I can Honestly say that I would prefer my tax dollars be used to teach someone how to better them selves than to lock them away once they fall between the cracks that so many before have fallen. And while some will say that every persons individual situation is the product of their own doing (the crack head chose to smake crack, the dropout chose not to go to school, etc.), there are many, many people who are in situations not of their own making. People who have limitless potential, but are caught in a socio-economic spiral that began years before they were even thought of. I know that I probably took this thread way off topic, and I hope I didn't rub anyone the wrong way, but everytime I hear someone use the word Entitlement in certain contexts it makes my eyes roll into the back of my head. i figure by now I've alienated/offended about half the people here, so I'll stop before I start workin on the other half, lol.