An Entitlement is Forever

Every time the powers-that-be hear some loose talk about balanced budgets, and reducing the deficit and the national debt, they are sure to speak up, and start saying things like, "But you have to realize that the vast bulk of the budget consists of entitlements" -- as though "entitlements" were something foisted on us by an alien force from another planet. Apparently there is nothing so sacred, or sacrosanct, or untouchable, as these hallowed "entitlements". Which means, basically, that nothing can be done about deficits and the national debt, because nothing can be done about entitlements... so we might as well just give up. Well, I think it's time for the American people to rise up and cry "bullshit!" at this sort of cop-out. Each and every "entitlement" on the book is based on some law or other -- but guess what, each of those laws was passed by Congress... and guess what, each of those laws can be rescinded, called off, cancelled. Yes! It really is possible to slay the entitlement dragon -- but an iron political will is needed, which our marshmallows in Congress clearly do not possess (ERP)(Except Ron Paul). For one thing, I'm sure they are all petrified at the thought of the millions of lawsuits that would result -- why, the government has committed "breach of contract"! Well, maybe it has and maybe it hasn't -- I mean, how many of the people receiving these entitlements did anything to earn them? The answer is NONE -- because otherwise, they wouldn't be entitlements. This is something that is almost universally overlooked. The second point is that, entitlement or no, the government should not be expected to provide that which it does not possess -- and that would be funds. Thirdly, let's say it goes to court -- to the Supreme Court, even. And they decide in favor of the entitlement junkies. That would be the time for the president, or whoever, to ask -- to paraphrase Joseph Stalin -- "How many divisions does the Supreme Court have?" In other words, "make me" -- and this response has already been used any number of times, and quite recently, in cases like affirmative action. So why not in this case as well? I mean -- isn't it time to get tough -- really tough -- on the entitlement issue? Because, really, there is no choice -- leave it alone and it will bring down the entire structure. Get tough -- reorganize and "slim down", the way we are encouraging all the bankrupt auto companies to do -- and you might come up with something viable, and sustainable. Because the system as it is is neither one -- and the sooner Congress and the administration wake up to this fact the better, and the less severe pain will result.