Why do so many people feel "entitled" and "deserving" these days?

1. 57

   Gina Welds-Hulseposted 8 years ago

   I worked in a Juvenile Detention Center for over 6 years teaching art as "therapy."  During one session I asked the students what would have resulted in a different scenario of their life....meaning not ending up in prison.  The response that i got from all of them is that they wish their parents or adults in charge had been tougher on them.  They were looking for discipline, but only received permission to engage in destructive behaviors due to lack of supervision and, in their opinions, lack of true love....true parenting.
   As a result they felt entitled to go around and steal, breaking into cars, beating up on old ladies....just a few of the crimes.  They also felt that (remember these kids are in jail) if their parents had a true right to discipline or "punish" them, they might not have been there.
   These students felt that the power of their parents had been taken away so as kids they could do what they wanted, no matter how wrong it was.

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2. 83

   gmwilliamsposted 8 years ago

   
   
   Because they......CAN.  There are people who strongly believe that they should have the good life; however, they are quite loath to sacrifice & work to attain that good life.  They contend that society, the government, & most of all their families should provide them w/a better quality of life.  This isn't only young people but all generations.
   
   There are family members who knowingly & willingly live off others.  My extended maternal family of aunts & cousins have lived off other relatives, never living on their own.  My father called them parasites.  Such relatives want to live that good life for free.  None of them wanted to succeed socioeconomically, they had opportunities but refused to take advantage of them.  They are angry at being poor but they prefer to mooch instead of working for a better life.

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3. 83

   lorddraven2000posted 8 years ago

   I think a lot of it has to do with "political correctness" if you will. When I was a kid we did all county band and you auditioned. If you were good enough you got in. Now every kid here makes the cut as long as they show up. Participate in a contest and every participant gets a trophy. We expect to get what we want regardless of what we do. It is a nad way to look at things.

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4. 94

   David Branaganposted 8 years ago

   Because it has become a cultural norm! I can, I have, I want. In 'The West' we live in welfare states. We are entitled because we are offered, we deserve because it is the norm.

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5. 64

   Brians Reviewposted 8 years ago

   That's what we've been told by Obama and Hillary for the last 8 years. We are all victims of a greedy capitalistic system that has been getting rich off the working class. When everyone is a victim, we are all dependent on what the government can take from the rich and ration to their voting base.

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6. 64

   Johnny James Aposted 7 years ago

   “These Days” – It is not that more people feel entitled these days in terms of a percentage basis, as entitlement thinking has gone on since the beginning of time. However, more people have the right to speak, which is why it appears more people feel entitled. In addition, more people fight to get “benefits” but not have them deemed entitlements.  For example, for many years military servicemen percentage wise were the largest consumers of welfare and welfare type benefits. During Nixon’s tenure he expanded Welfare and Welfare benefits tremendously.  In fact, much of the expansion of welfare and entitlement rolls is a direct result of Nixon’s rules and guidelines for who qualifies to get on SSI and welfare. He even championed a minimum income guarantee by government, but that was shot down. Part of the reason for the expansion, and this was later expanded further in the 80s, was because soldiers could not make ends meet. However, they did not like that soldiers were getting “welfare.” As such, they rearranged the “welfare” to become benefits. Pre-existing benefits (GI Bill form the 1940s) were expanded; Soldiers got more “housing allowances”; access to cheaper loans, non-taxable combat pay; states many times would not tax military income, etc. During the 70s-80s, more SSI benefits came about for the disabled and blind.  Now you were no longer getting an “entitlement” but were getting Supplemental Security Income (sounds better than welfare). The problem, the definition of “disabled” expanded.  Now children with learning disabilities are getting SSI payments, dubious disability claims come about. This has been going on for decades now, not just these days. So long as the definition of disability gets larger, so will the people who apply, which would have happened in the 70s if they knew of all the disabilities. Social Security, which was put in place back in 1935, never took into account longer life spans.  Now many who are collecting SS are actually getting more than they put in, especially when you count Medicare benefits (but this is not called welfare). It is not a generational thing or the people today feeling more entitled.  It is merely that there is more of us today and so in total numbers there are more, but on a percentage basis it is the same. The other thing is the biggest recipient of civil rights, women who make up more than 50% of the population can now speak up for and receive more governmental benefits.

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7. 61

   Jaxxiposted 7 years ago

   Because they missed out on the traditional family that is supposed to nurture a child and put family before career, but in the 80s women had to have their careers to prove their worth and independence and in a sense they did get shafted! Growing up feeling not as important, or misunderstood,  makes these kids feel like they got screwed and raised themselves,and many of them have. What good is the fancy house and the expensive SUV if the kids wouldve rather had you?.

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