Wednesday, August 03, 2011

What Entitlement Spending Has Spawned

"That's what we're creating" ~ Judge Judith Sheindlin



Monday was the first day of the month. The first day of the month is the day retired people get their Social Security checks. It is the day Welfare recipients get their Welfare checks.

On the first day of the month, those with the entitlement mentality go out and walk (and shop) among us.

I've seen the first of every month come and go for years, but this past Monday was the first time I really noticed how forcefully the addiction to entitlements has negatively affected our society.

I've mentioned this several times on this and other blogs. I've pointed out how lines of people park their cars in the fire lanes at retail stores instead of in the designated parking spaces. I've pointed out how this is a demonstration of the entitlement mentality at work. They park where they want because it's closer to the door. It's more convenient to walk a few feet than it is to walk a few dozen feet.

Unless they are stopping there momentarily to let some handicapped passenger off, I don't know what else to attribute this to other than they feel somehow entitled to park their cars illegally.

This past Monday, I witnessed an extension of this phenomena firsthand.

I was in WalMart talking to an electronics associate, questioning him on GPS devices. A man walked up and rudely interrupted our conversation to demand where the Virgin Mobile phone cards were located. The associate excused himself to me, and replied the store doesn't sell Virgin Mobile phone cards. The man gruffly retorted, "You sold 'em two weeks ago!" After some more contentious conversation the associate helped the man locate the Virgin Mobile broadband-to-go cards, and explained that since the store doesn't sell the phones, he couldn't say for certain whether the broadband cards would work with the phones.

Instead of thanking the associate for his help, honesty, and patience, the man stalked wordlessly and angrily out of the area.

As I was standing before the register preparing to purchase my selection, a family consisting of a man, a woman, and a daughter walked up and demanded to be checked out first and, partly because I was in no hurry, and partly because I wanted to alleviate any possible contention between the associate and his "customer", I courteously allowed the associate to take them ahead of me.

As the associate tried in vain to initiate a friendly short discussion, the family stood unresponsive to his pleasantries and scowling. Then, they started complaining about the price, which, incidentally, was already marked down below list price.

Meanwhile, the daughter occupied herself by picking up various items, looking at them briefly, and then dropping them wherever she happened to be standing, regardless of whether that's where the items belonged. Not once did her parents request that she keep her hands off things or reprimand her.

Irresponsibility begets irresponsibility.

After they left, I made the observance to the associate that there seemed to be an abundance of rude, classless customers in the store that day.

He replied, "It happens the first of every month."

The welfare checks go out that day, and the recipients descend upon the merchants in hordes, spending their checks on luxuries, entertainment, alcohol, cigarettes, and other items that do nothing to lessen their debt, or help pay their rent.

All the while pushing, demanding, insisting, they get everything they want at the absolute lowest prices, and if the items they want are not exactly what they expect, the merchants can count on them to raise a loud, boisterous objection.

This is what the Welfare state in this country has spawned.

And, it will only get worse. In fact, our Government encourages the addiction. In our altruistic hope to help poor people afford living expenses, as well as the expense of giving birth and providing for the children born as a result of their promiscuous behavior, we are creating the perception that it thus becomes a reward for breeding and multiplying.

Their progeny inherits this entitlement addiction from the equally addicted parents.

And so it goes.

Where will it end?

Will it end?

Who knows?

The Democrats insist that increasing entitlement spending will increase demand and decrease unemployment.

How is that possible?

The Government (We, the people) has not shown any inclination to put a stop to this self-destructive cycle.

If we the people don't, who will?

25 comments:

Ducky's here said...

You took your example from Judge Judy?

Mark said...

Ducky, I'll keep my response to your stupid question short, so you can understand it:

No.

Mark said...

You know, I really believe many people act stupider than they really are. Like Ducky.

Glenn E. Chatfield said...

Ya hit the proverbial nail on the head, Mark!

Ducky's here said...

Let me guess, Glenn, you're favorite news source is Glenn Beck.

What's next, Mark, Jerry Springer?

Glenn E. Chatfield said...

Ducky is wrong as usual. I don't like Beck.

Mark said...

Ducky, do you have anything pertinent to add to this discussion?

I related a personal observation and drew an appropriate conclusion and you have made two comments, one accusing me of basing my personal observation on Judge Judy, and the other accusing Glenn of basing his personal observation on Glenn Beck.

Is this because you cannot think for yourself and so, cannot understand that others can, or are you being intentionally stupid?

Ducky's here said...

What's there to say, Mark You put up some anecdotal segment from a TV show that tries to milk it for all possible absurdity and you somehow move from there to a complete condemnation of social democracy.

How can that be taken seriously?

One of the best thing minorities could do is stop showing up on Judge Judy, Jerry Springer and the rest of the exploitative shows. Bad PR.

I laugh at this BECAUSE I can think for myself.

Lone Ranger said...

This isn't from Judge Judy.

I was in L.A. during the Rodney King riots. The goal seemed to be not to fight for social justice, but to steal as much stuff as the rioters could. Widespread looting, assault, arson and murder occurred, and property damage topped $1 billion. In all, 53 people died during the riots and thousands more were injured.

Several days into the chaos, local TV stations started announcing that nobody need worry, government checks would be delivered on time. On check day, everything just stopped. I was working in the satellite center that day and watched as thousands of people lined up around the block at post offices around the city. I said, "Wow, L.A. sure has a lot of government employees." Some uber-liberal in the room with me blew his cork, "How dare you mock welfare recipients!" (or similar phony indignation to that effect)

Welfare recipients?

I don't know who was more embarrassed, me for thinking those thousands of people were workers, collecting pay checks or him for assuming that I was making fun of the "poor."

At any rate, welfare checks were what stopped the L.A. riots, not anything the authorities were able to do (which was not much.)

Trader Rick said...

Mark, don't question Wal*Mart employees about GPS. Go to Best Buy and get their advice. Then buy at Wal*Mart if the prices are better...And my advice to you in the future: Don't let people buying basketball shoes with their food coupons or their Welfare Credit Card get ahead of you in line...

Trader Rick said...

Mark, I have an example here I'd like to share with your two readers, as well as daffy and "jim" Here is an exchange on a facebook page for a town hall meeting this a.m.:

Patrick E. Brownspot
Thank the Good Lord for patriots like Rick Scott!!!
2 hours ago · Like ·

John Bolton Patricia, Your a Dumb Ass Sheeple...Your RICK SCOTT SHOULD BE IN PRISSON NOT TALLAHASSEE !! Like most people from Buffalo...Your a Racist. You hate Obama more than You love America. I'm looking forward to seeing your old petrified ass at The Town Hall ...Your not a Christian . Jesus Hates You Teabaggers
about an hour ago · Like
Patrick E. Brownspot Gosh! Good job outing yourself. Let us know how the hatred is working out for you...
about an hour ago · Like
John Bolton Outing myself?? LMAO... I've been calling out low lifes like you forever. I don't hate you...Jesus hates you !! He told me this !!
about an hour ago · Like...........................WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THIS MARK? (I don't know this guy, he obviously went to my profile and misread it...)

Mark said...

I think he has you confused with someone else, Rick. You are not from Buffalo, are you?

Perhaps you should have corrected his spelling or his grammar. You know, when one calls someone else stupid or a "dumb ass", one should probably learn proper English to do so.

Mark said...

Ducky, I'm going to give you the benefit of the doubt and assume you don't know by now, that I don't put up very long with pretentious elitists such as yourself.

You know what a pretentious elitist is, don't you? The way I define it, a pretentious elitist is someone who considers himself smarter and classier than the rest of us, but isn't any smarter or classier than anyone else. (I know you pretty well already, don't I?)

See, I was a fine arts major myself, and, due to the attempted indoctrination from a plethora of Liberal Socialist Professors, I can smell a prententious elitist from miles away. In your case, all the way to "Bawston".

Now, I readily admit I'm an elitist, but I'm not pretentious. I really am smarter and classier than you, Ducky.

But, that's alright. You keep commenting here and showing your pretentious elitism and your astounding stupidity until I tire of your inanity and start deleting you.

Now, if you care to explain in what way my post is inaccurate, I'm all ears. Perhaps, sitting way up there on your high horse, you have not witnessed the entitlement addiction of which I write.

Ducky's here said...

Go ahead and ban me. Ranger Rick has lost his appeal.

It's great when these fringe right wingers start crying no mas.

Mark said...

It's not crying, Idiot. It's common sense. When you start contributing something besides mockery and derision to the discussion, you'll find I can be more patient.

For instance, you still haven't accepted my challenge.

Tell us what's inaccurate about my post. Do you seriously think entitlement addicts are beneficial to society, and if so, how?

Imagine a homeless person sitting at the front gate to your house asking you for money every day as you leave the house to go to work. Each day, you give him enough money to put a deposit down on a place to live. And yet, every day he's right back there again, asking you for more and more and more. Do you think he is beneficial to society? How about you? Is he beneficial to you, personally? How?

Time to man up, Ducky, and explain how my post is wrong.

Jim said...

"When you start contributing something besides mockery and derision to the discussion, you'll find I can be more patient."

Excuse me, then why are most of Trader Rick's posts allowed?

Trader Rick said...

You're right "jim". I will try to be kinder and gentler. I think I'll become a uber-liberal. I hate America. Die, American infidels, Die! Up with Che!!! Yeah, probably suits my personality better. I'm on your side now "jim"-- Down with the filthy rich!!!! Let's go out an kill us some babies!!!!!

Mark said...

I see Ducky, like all Liberals, prefers to run away to actually answering the questions put to him.

I asked him at another blog to explain how increasing entitlement spending will increase demand and decrease unemployment, and he never answered.

I asked him how my post is inaccurate, and he didn't respond.

Seems Liberals would rather disengage before they'll admit to being wrong.

Jim said...

Case in point.

Jim said...

"explain how increasing entitlement spending will increase demand and decrease unemployment,"

When you decrease taxes for the wealthy, they may spend the money or they may buy T-Bills or pay off debt.

If you give money to people who are unemployed, they will spend it. They HAVE to spend it. If people have money to spend, that creates a demand for goods and services. If the demand is great enough, providers will hire more people to meet the demand.

Trader Rick said...

HEY Mark, just for fun:

There are a number of new sci-fi movies and TV series recently with the theme of earthlings vs. Aliens trying to take over and transform our planet. The new thing seems to be higher evolved ETs that send disgusting lobster-like slimy monsters to fight us, or mindless Robots with hi-tech weapons.

I like this stuff, and one fun thing to do while watching them is to relate the various characters on both sides to current political figures.

The ugly slimy insectoids to me are like Nanci Pelosi. The shiny metal Robots are like Harry Reid. But who are the evil Aliens behind them? John the Traitor Kerry?

The old guys who counsel caution during these wars are John McCain? The hot hero girl is Michelle Bachman? Is Rick Perry the Action hero on the side of the Humans?

Who are the traitors that are mind-controlled by the Aliens? Dimocrat voters?

The really scary part about all this is that in the movies, you can easily tell who's the enemy; but on the political scene the Destroyers of Civilization look just like us...with screen avatars with dark glasses on...

Always On Watch said...

After they left, I made the observance to the associate that there seemed to be an abundance of rude, classless customers in the store that day.

He replied, "It happens the first of every month."


Typical of those living on handouts. Happens in families too, I think.

The difference, of course, is that in a family those with the sense of entitlement can be cut off and, thereby, tend to stay reined in.

But one a welfare recipient gets a check, he knows that he can do as he damn well pleases; nobody will cut him off.

Mark said...

Jim, "When you decrease taxes for the wealthy, they may spend the money or they may buy T-Bills or pay off debt.

If you give money to people who are unemployed, they will spend it. They HAVE to spend it. If people have money to spend, that creates a demand for goods and services. If the demand is great enough, providers will hire more people to meet the demand.


Not a bad answer, Jim, but there are other ways to look at it, to wit:

If you decrease taxes for the wealthy, the decrease frees up money they can use to hire more people or use for R&D, thus both increasing demand AND decreasing unemployment.

If you give money to the unemployed, especially with little or no conditions, the unemployed person may become lazy and refuse to look for work (because he's getting money without having to work for it), thus creating an entitlement addiction that often continues through the next generations.

Plus, distributing money to the unemployed comes out of ALL working people's paycheck, not just the wealthy's, which creates a need to raise taxes, and on and on and on.

Mark said...

The more the entitlement addicted spend, the more they demand, and the more they demand, the more well-meaning Liberal politicians call for raising taxes higher and higher. The more taxes, the less demand and more unemployment. The higher the amount of entitlements, the more attractive not working becomes.

Jim said...

"the decrease frees up money they can use to hire more people"

Why in the world would they hire more people to sit around and do nothing? They wouldn't hire people unless there was more demand for the good or services produced.

"the unemployed person may become lazy and refuse to look for work"

Really? I'm sure someone who's been pulling in $75k a year is going to NOT look for a job because they can get $250 a week unemployment. Really?

You can bet they are spending that $250 every week, though.

"Plus, distributing money to the unemployed comes out of ALL working people's paycheck, not just the wealthy's,"

Wait! I thought that 47% of Americans don't pay income taxes.

"distributing money to the unemployed comes out of ALL working people's paycheck, not just the wealthy's, which creates a need to raise taxes, and on and on and on."

Not if you cut in some other places like defense, or oil company subsidies.