Guess SS and Medicare are the "entitlement" endangered species as far as repugs and blue dems go. But what about the other entitlements? I think we should cut congress's entitlement to pensions and health care. After all they have screwed the pooch and somebody should pay for it besides us! But no, they think they are entitled to that benefit because of their place in this society.
Specter thought that he was entitled to keeping his seniority. Bank CEO's think they are entitled to huge salaries and huge bonuses. AND they think they are entitled to use tax payer money for lobbying. AND they think they shouldn't have to pay taxes - or their banks shouldn't. They are entitled to hide money in the Cayman Islands. They probably hide goodly chunks of their own estate in same, after all, they are entitled to all that money without sharing it with all of us who pay our taxes.
As a matter of fact, too many people in this country think they are entitled to the benefits of citizenship but don't want to pay for those benefits. Rethugs mantra is "cut taxes, cut taxes" never mind that taxes are necessary to fund even a minimal govt.
And if we are going adventuring and warring, that must be paid for as well. But Rummy felt that warring should be done on the cheap and he felt he was entitled to cut corners and screw our servicemen and women. He and Cheney felt they were entitled to torture and kill and maim people and tuck them away in far off countries. Bush, Cheney and their aides all felt entitled to break the law. This same crew, aided and abetted by rethug congresscritters, felt entitled to hide the costs of their warring.
It also seems that all parties are okay with the entitlement of bailouts without also coupling those with investigations and added regulations.
I feel that I am entitled to piss on their shoes in my dottage. I feel that I am ready to accept that accountability will never again be part of our country's virtues. And I am ready to admit that the mixture of congressional and financial institution's since of entitlement will soon end the era of American supremacy.
Update per Marie:
Military contractors think they are entitled to payment when they don't perform or grossly overcharge.
Retired military officers think they are entitled to a government pension, job with a military contractor to lobby the Pentagon AND appear on TV as a "military advisor."
And also: And perhaps we should add congresscritters and people who staff administrations think they are entitled to become high paid lobbyists!