"Entitlement Reform" is a cloaking device for some very ugly intentions

[dajoki]

"Entitlement Reform" Is a Euphemism For Letting Old People Get Sick and Die
by RJ Eskow | February 26, 2011 - 1:26pm
http://www.smirkingchimp.com/node/34639

George Orwell would be proud. The latest Washington catchphrase deserves a place of honor in the 1984 lexicon, right between "War Is Peace" and "Love Is Hate." It's a virus of the language that's spreading faster than the stomach flu.

"The President's budget punts on entitlement reform," reads a statement by House Republicans. "Our budget will lead where the President has failed, and it will include real entitlement reforms." "You have to do entitlement reforms if you are serious about this budget," says Rep. Paul Ryan.

Reality check: Nobody's proposing 'entitlement reform.' That term is a cloaking device for some very ugly intentions. It's a meaningless manufactured phrase cooked up by some highly-paid consultant, and it diminishes the sum total of human understanding every time it's used. The phrase is a euphemism for deep cuts to programs that are vital and even life-saving for millions of elderly and poor people, but it's politically unpalatable to say that. So it became necessary to come up with yet another cognition-killing term designed to numb us from the human toll of our political actions. "Entitlement reform" is the new "collateral damage."

But this time the collateral damage is us.

Orwell's Children

Gotta hand it to 'em. This phrase is a masterstroke that's successfully concealing a brutal plan to slash funds for Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. Whoever crafted it did a hell of a job. "Reform" carries positive overtones of courage, and change, improvement, while the word "reformer" has been applied to great heroes like Teddy Roosevelt or Lincoln Steffens who fought for the powerless and the victimized.

And the term "entitlement" resonates with that word's other meaning - selfishness and the greedy assumption that one deserves to be served by others (as in "he acts so entitled)." It even appears in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) used to diagnose psychiatric problems, as one of the characteristics of "Narcissistic Personality Disorder":
"Has a sense of entitlement, i.e., unreasonable expectations of especially favorable treatment or automatic compliance with his or her expectations."

<<snip>>

http://www.smirkingchimp.com/node/34639

[bobbolink]

1. From many recent threads here, it is a reasonable guess that many here will SUPPORT

"entitlement reform"

I think poor people are screwed completely, but it really doesn't matter.

More and more of us are giving up.

What's the fucking use........

[dajoki]

6. I feel the same way...

poor people are screwed completely and it seems that nobody cares. I have come to a point in my life where I am ready to give up, there just doesn't seem to be a point anymore.

[Lyric]

11. Yeah.

It's all pretty hopeless on my end, too. I'm just waiting for the next gut-blow.

[bobbolink]

13. We can either give up individually and silently, or we can take a page from the Egyptians.

I have failed at trying to get poor people to come together... it looks like quiet, individual suicides will be the order of the day.

[CTyankee]

15. I haven't. And I've seen even MORE, not less, comments in my local paper objecting

to the faux concept of "entitlement reform." But here in New Haven wehave strong progressives who are on to what the repukes are doing.

They want us to give up and that's why we must remain strong....

[bobbolink]

17. It would be heartening to be in an area where that is happening.

However,, there is NOTHING on "progressive" radio or other media, hardly anything on DU, and locallly... just don't give a shit.

Its easy to tell people to "Be strong". If you actually listen to the pain, though..... it is clear that injunctions like that don't accomplish anything.... except maybe adding guilt to the pain.

[drokhole]

2. Weasal words at their finest.

[bobbolink]

3. And it will work, because people really don't care.

[LeftishBrit]

4. Indeed. I *hate* the term 'entitlement' in such situations

As regards 'reform', at any rate when used by the British Tories it generally means 'cuts'.

[MiniMe]

5. To me, the "entitled" are the rich

They think they are "entitled" to all sorts of tax cuts, personally and for their businesses.

[leftstreet]

7. No Peasant Left Behi....Alive

K&R

[bobbolink]

8. Exactly. I wish I had that bumpersticker.

There are going to be mass suicides, and not one whisper of concern from the muddleclass.

NOT ONE.

[leftstreet]

10. Shhh. They're still deeply sleepwalking in the American Dream

Wasn't there an old folk maxim about waking up dreamers ...they might become unstable, or die?

[bobbolink]

12. Well, I can die silently, and fulfill their wishes, or I can scream as loud as I can while my breath

wanes.

Which do you think is the most useful?

[Sonoman]

9. The first time I heard the phrase was from Limbaugh.

Maybe 20 years ago.

I remember thinking, "Who the fuck came up with that?".

Sonoman

[Kingofalldems]

14. It's just like 'The Clear Skies Initiative' --a republican trick

Sneaky these repubs.

[dajoki]

18. It is also coming from the left n/t

[_ed_]

16. Obama uses that phrase now

There's no Republican framing that he doesn't accede to.

[Dragonfli]

19. Welfare "reform" resulted in many deaths, it still does, now it is a bi-partisan legacy

There is more of that political victory and bipartisanship to be shared again, with even more death expected.

How can it be that the purposeful starving and freezing of citizens is considered sensible and politically desirable?
How can there be only a handful of Democrats on this site that even bother to respond to this thread?
How can it be that it is so acceptable now to endanger the lives of those whose voices are without money to buy politicians now a bi-partisan sport?

Yes I will go away and die, with no treatment my illness will kill me within a year, I can get none.
Without additional help, my apartment will continue to be heat-less and my toilet will stay frozen over till spring, and there is a bipartisan solution to put more people in this situation.

Lets speak again of hope and change and then let us at least acknowledge that people will die on this alter of appeasement to the wealthy and bi-partisan agreement.
Cheer on the party but tell me again what happened to the party that thought death by poverty was a thing to fight against, a problem to solve.

Tell me again what happened to the party of FDR, it appears to have left the building, even as it decrees that those without a building to live in must now die for some higher purpose.
Tell me why so many of those here have become as cold and heartless as Republicans.

Where are you all?
Where are you.

[handmade34]

20. simply....

most people don't think... if we take money (SS, welfare, food stamps, etc) away from people... those said people will not be spending it at local businesses and those said businesses will suffer... low income people spend ALL of their money locally and they support local BUSINESS

taking away money from low income people to continue tax cuts for the weathy is not wise

[Dragonfli]

21. It can also simply kill...... Not that many here even notice /nt

[handmade34]

22. I have seen it kill...

I believe many people feel helpless and it is not so much that they don't notice...

we won't quit...

[dougyang]

23. I agree!

I have heard enough of this political rehtoric! It's time those in power spoke plainly to the people ...

[Overseas]

24. Yet no questioning of war profiteers' entitlement to so much of our tax money.

No questioning of the entitlement of our corporations to so much welfare.

No questioning of our legislators' entitlement to accept so much corporate funding to do their bidding.

[leftstreet]

25. POLL: Should Boeing be allowed to purchase learjets with their MICC Stamps?

You never see that

:grr:

[Overseas]

26. No kidding!

Not even "Should America continue spending as much on its military as all other nations combined when its people are being evicted from their homes and bankrupted by the privatized health system?"

Not even "Should military contractors convicted of fraud be entitled to more contracts?"