To What Are We Entitled?

A few years ago, people filled the streets to demand amnesty for those who entered the country illegally, used false documents to obtain employment, drove cars without benefit of license or insurance and in many cases failed to pay income taxes. Thousands of illegal immigrants (document-free imports) and their supporters waved the flags of their mother countries proclaiming that while they will always love and be loyal to their homeland (as long as they and their children don’t have to live there), they are entitled to all the benefits of American citizenship.  Yes, they got ahead in the line of countrymen waiting to be granted legal entrance to the promised land, but they are here now, they have worked hard for low wages.  Some have even managed to start families here with American-born children.

Are they really entitled to all the rights any American citizen enjoys?

And when they then apply for work and if their children apply to colleges, should they also be entitled to affirmative action to level the playing field?

And then what about two medical professionals - a doctor and a nurse in different locations who were found to have been practicing without benefit of a medical license or formal education in their field?  The doctor offered medical services to low income patients who paid him only what they could afford.  He was not a great doctor, but he helped many people.  The nurse was accorded special honors by a non-existent nurses association.  Should both be entitled to continue their careers even though they had been working without the necessary documentation? Sure they violated the laws governing entry into medical practice, but they have been doing the job and we need medical professionals.

Last year people were protesting the results of a ballot measure declaring marriage to be limited to the union of one man and one woman.  The protesters were irate and outraged that it was possible in a democracy for the majority to vote on issues that affect the population.  Marriage is a human right (read entitlement) that is for anyone who loves anyone else (as long there are only two involved, both are human, they are not otherwise related to each other, are not married, and are over a certain age) they say.

 Are all lovers really entitled to all the rights and responsibilities of marriage?

The banking business was at the brink of collapse because of immense greed and poor judgment.  Large banks and the insurance company that covered some of their losses needed tens of billions of taxpayer dollars to stay in business.  Upon receipt of taxpayer bailout money these same bankers and brokers awarded thousands of employees huge bonuses.  One bank is preparing to pay one individual $100 million in bonus while still owing the taxpayers billions. These hard-working employees had lost some of the value of their previous stock bonuses because they themselves had destroyed the value of their company.  But still they worked hard and might be tempted to forsake their company and go to the competition if they are not given the bonuses to which they feel entitled. Loyal employees they are not.

Are they entitled to bonuses regardless of their work product and because of their lack of loyalty and abundance of greed?

The small radical fringe of the minority party continues to make absurd allegations about the President.  Radio and T.V. personalities like Rush, Bill O., Glenn, Sean, Michael and Lou, whose wealth depends upon encouraging this fringe group, keep insisting that our President is not a native-born American contrary to all evidence.  They allege that he has an agenda to turn the country into a socialist or perhaps even a communist state.  They imply that there are some dark secrets in the President’s college transcript and accuse him and his alma maters of a conspiracy to hide his report cards.  They continually slander and libel the President.  Is that why we have the first amendment guaranteeing and therefore entitling freedom of the press?

Are they entitled to say whatever they want in the name of journalism?

Are American businesses entitled to do whatever they can to improve the bottom line including hiring document-free imports at low wages and benefits or outsourcing work done here to less-expensive workers in India and China regardless how that affects our workers or our nation’s economy?

Are people with cell phones entitled to use them anywhere they can get a signal? They pay their exorbitant cell phone bill every month, so can they talk while on a checkout line, while waiting at a green light, while driving through a red light or stop sign, while driving five miles per hour in a 35 mph zone, while strolling their baby as they hold and drink the ubiquitous cup of coffee, while out on a date or while in a parking space before leaving it?

Are nice people with all the right political views entitled to double park when making ATM transactions, dropping the little ones off at childcare, buying flowers or just chatting with friends or acquaintances?

Are we all entitled to own our own homes, even if we can’t afford the payments?

Are we entitled to do or buy whatever we can afford to regardless of whether we need it and no matter how it affects the environment?

 Are children of the very rich and famous entitled to getting advantages when applying to private high schools or elite colleges?

Are the children of the poor and unsuccessful entitled to getting advantages when applying to private high schools and elite colleges?

Are we all entitled to do as many things at the same time as we are willing to attempt believing that quantity trumps quality?

Are parents entitled to have as many children as they want knowing that they are entitled to help if they cannot manage their expanded family obligations?

Are athletes entitled to do whatever they can to improve their stats and thereby increase their earnings?

And am I entitled to ask?