Dear Chris, Rachel and Ed: For the last time . . .

[Brigid]

Social Security and Medicare are NOT "entitlements!" They are EARNED BENEFITS! We. PAID for them! How come every one of you still gets that wrong? :banghead:

We'll never shut up the Republicans on this until we get that right.

[Schema Thing]

1. they are entitlements.

we are entitled to them because we paid for them.

[ClassWarrior]

5. So what? Using that word reinforces the Rape-Publican argument, because...

...of the negative connotations associated with it. Language matters. Please use it carefully.

NGU.

[Raine]

14. The mistake was letting THEM turn the word "entitlement"

into something that sounds like a freebie and not something that one is entitled to because you paid for it. Our side always seems to let them define things and I'm infuriated that it happens again and again. :mad:

[tularetom]

2. Since we did in fact pay for these benefits aren't we entitled to them?

And if indeed we are entitled to them, what's so terrible about calling them entitlements?

I understand your frustration but I think the problem is much more in the context in which the term is used and the sort of smirking tone that's adopted by certain members of our liberal media when they pronounce the word.

Kinda like what they've done to the term "liberal" itself.

[aquart]

13. They simply believe that only the rich are entitled to anything.

And they want us to feel guilty for presuming to be entitled to WHAT WE FUCKING PAID FOR.

I don't feel guilty. I feel vengeful.

[gateley]

3. They are insurance policies we BOUGHT. Therefore,

we're entitled to them, but I agree it sounds as though they're freebies. I hate it, too.

What would a better word be? Benefits sounds like a perk, too.

[phleshdef]

4. Thats basically what entitlment means. Just because Republicans want it to be a perjorative...

...doesn't mean it is. We still call ourselves liberals and they tried to do the same thing with that word.

[ClassWarrior]

6. No, the fact that it exists as a pejorative in the minds of the public means it is.

Why fall on one's sword over a goddam word when so much is at stake?

NGU.

[napi21]

7. Did you email each of them? I did.

[e-mail]

[e-mail]

[e-mail]

[e-mail]

[RaleighNCDUer]

8. Earned benefits is the definition of entitlement.

Entitlement means you are entitled to something - fully deserving of something.

You can't shut the republicans up on this if you accept their framing and definition.

[ClassWarrior]

9. So what? It has a negative connotation that damages our position.

How about calling them "assistance programs?" Why cling to a word that bolsters the Rape-Publican argument?

NGU.

[RaleighNCDUer]

17. That's running away. You have to CONFRONT the lie.

Whenever anyone says 'entitlement' as a perjorative, you have to come back with "If I've paid in all my life, I'm ENTITLED to get the benefits!" "Assistance programs" are WELFARE. Welfare is NOT entitlements.

Stop using the republican definitions. THAT is what bolsters their positiion.

And NGU to you, too.

[LiberalAndProud]

10. I agree with you Raleigh.

I don't think it does any good to run away from the word that describes the thing we are talking about. It can work for us if we use it. "Do you know why you're entitled to it? Because you paid for it." It has the ring of truth.

Rush turns the best words into dirty words, doesn't he?

[ClassWarrior]

11. Yes, let's embrace being called "Baby Killers" too.

Maybe it can also work for us if we use it. "Baby, we entitled liberals are killer...s!"

:eyes:

NGU.

[LiberalAndProud]

12. Excuse me?

How is that even remotely similar?

I see you are passionate about this, but I really think we need to start to claim some territory rather than run away from every slight. Maybe I am wrong, but if we could turn around some negative connotations, wouldn't that be a good thing?

[supraTruth]

15. Do NOT let the CONS define the words "entitlements" or "liberal."

Entitlements mean what they say --- Earned Benefits.

They are NOT welfare. They are due to those of US who have paid into the system. We are ENTITLED to them & do NOT EVER let the CONS STEAL them from US.

[supraTruth]

16. MORE importantly, tell them to tell the President to tell boehner&cantor that CONgressional pay

WILL BE CUT FIRST if the Aug. DEADline is missed, & the ONLY changes to S.S. & Medicare that will be approved is the raising or ELIMINATION of the payroll income cap.

[Quantess]

18. We are all "entitled" to them because they are earned.

So, they aren't incorrect.
But, I agree with you that the wording is crucial. RWers twist everything around.

[Major Hogwash]

19. Doesn't matter, that's what they ALL call them. Like we're freakin' British royalty or sumpthin.

Like we are BORN into it, so we DESERVE it.

What a crock of shit.
We pay into the system, where it is supposed to be held like in a bank's savings account for our golden years after we retire.

Never mind the millions of people who never live long enough to get any of that money.
We agreed, as a whole nation, to pay into that system.

Fuck the Republicans.
Bush wanted to put the funds on Wall street in 2005.

That would have worked out just great, huh?

Vice President Al Gore was right in 2000.
They should have put SS away in a lockbox and left it alone.

[eridani]

20. What's wrong with saying that if you pay in, you are ENTITLED to a payout? n/t

[Kahuna]

21. Because we paid for them, they ARE entitlements. nt

[millijac]

22. The point here is that not long ago,

no decent leftie would be caught using the term "entitlements." I'm old enough to know that. It slowly began to creep into OUR language after the right began using it more and more within the last decade. It's like the term "Pro-Life." How many lefties buy into that crap too and use that term without thinking? We may be entitled to SSI and Medicare and they may truly considered entitlements, but by using that term, we're playing right into their hands.

As usual.

STOP LETTING THEM FRAME THE ARGUMENTS AND THE LANGUAGE.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

23. An "entitlement" is EXACTLY an earned benefit.

That's what it means. You earned (purchased) the benefits by paying FICA/Medicare taxes and you are now entitled to them. It is the correct term and there's nothing wrong with it. An entitlement is exactly the opposite of welfare. The problem is that the GOPers have taken an entirely legitimate and proper term and twisted it to mean or imply something completely different - kind of like what they did with the word "liberal." I see nothing wrong with continuing to use the term "entitlement," which has been used to describe SS and Medicare without controversy for about as long as I can remember, at least until recently. Don't let the GOPers steal another word from us.