September 9, 2024 – 10:00 AM

When we hear the word entitlement, it’s often used as a sneer—painted as a moral failing of the masses, a caricature of laziness or greed. But entitlement, in its truest form, is a promise. A social contract. And that contract has been repeatedly broken.

Take Social Security, America’s foundational old-age pension and insurance policy. It was never meant to be a lavish benefit, but a basic guarantee for retirees who contributed their entire working lives. Yet this vital safety net has been mismanaged and systematically weakened. Who’s to blame? For decades, the Republican Party has funneled Social Security funds to pay for disastrous wars—first in Afghanistan and Iraq. The Iraq War, in particular, stands as a criminal enterprise: launched on lies by George W. Bush, resulting in thousands of needless deaths and untold suffering. When Trump came along, he essentially said, “Hold my beer,” escalating the damage in his own way.

Now, some say we are the entitled ones. But what about the power brokers, the media megaphones (those massive broadcast and social media conglomerates), and the cultural influencers who have collectively sold us a lie? They promised that if you work hard, stay in school, and play by the rules, good things will follow. This is no vague ideal—it is a contract, a clear quid pro quo. Person A does their part; Person B provides the agreed-upon outcome. “It’s something for something,” as Bush 41 was fond of saying.

But here’s the problem: when CNN and FOX broadcast that promise to millions and the system collapses into a crapshoot, that’s not entitlement. That’s fraud. A contract was made and broken. The social contract—the backbone of our society—has been torn apart by the very few who were entrusted to uphold it.

The outcome is no longer guaranteed. The rules shifted without consent. And yet, the blame is reversed. The people who followed the rules are now told they think they’re entitled when they expect what was promised. This is a cruel inversion.

This must be recognized for what it truly is: fraud committed upon the many by the few, to serve the games and greed of the few. The architects of this betrayal must be held accountable. They must pay for their crimes.

If you as an individual are too stubborn or uninformed to see this, your ignorance is your own burden—but do not conflate your personal failings with the systemic failure that harms millions.

Entitlement is not the problem. Broken promises, deceitful leadership, and a rigged system are.