dagblog - Comments for "Who Believe They Are Entitled..."

(It is also worth noting that

Elusive Trope — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 17:29:33 +0000

In reply to Yes--because if you're chosen

(It is also worth noting that Jesus was one of the moochers, and said something about moochers inheriting the earth, or was that the cheese makers.)

The Corner Pharmacy's logo is

erica20 — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 17:23:03 +0000

In reply to Right on Dick . . . Although

The Corner Pharmacy's logo is a little unfortunate when reduced to tombstone size.

I thought it said "The Boner Pharmacy."

Yes--because if you're chosen

erica20 — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 17:21:30 +0000

In reply to I think looking at Romney's

Yes--because if you're chosen by God, you might not HAVE to pay income tax.

Check with God by praying about it; there's a good chance you'll like his answer.

(It's worth noting that according to the concept of God-given prosperity, being an Evangelical Christian, or in Mitt's case a Mormon, automatically confers non-moocher status. Unless one is an Evangelical Christian Democrat, in which case moocher status is retained.)

I think looking at Romney's

Elusive Trope — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 16:49:01 +0000

In reply to Obviously, you do not know my

I think looking at Romney's remarks through the prosperity gospel lens offers some potential insight into how he sees the world.

Obviously, you do not know my

EmmaZahn — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 16:02:39 +0000

In reply to Maybe people are social and

Obviously, you do not know my mother and sister. If you did you would think from their appearances and behaviors that they certainly thought they deserved the best. So why not able to say it? Anyway, a branch of that personal empowerment fad evolved into prosperity gospels with which my sister has no problem.

Just one thing that crossed

Elusive Trope — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 15:56:31 +0000

In reply to Who Believe They Are Entitled...

Just one thing that crossed my mind as I watched the video an umpteenth time on a news program was I wondered how the wait staff felt listening to Romney talk about the 46% - many I assume who fell into that group of folks who don't pay federal income tax. Maybe Romney should have stopped his speech and asked one them why they feel entitled to things like food, or why they won't take responsibility for themselves or care for themselves.

The reality is that probably for him and the rest of the guest, "the help" was just as much of the room as the table, curtains and plates, their value only based on their extent that provide the utility for which they were purchased or rented.

Eugene Robinson the other day put it best (as he so often does) that the speech was Romney's "we have to stop coddling the servants" speech.

You are right, Romney could

rmrd0000 — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 15:04:31 +0000

In reply to As social creatures, there is

You are right, Romney could have been speaking to kindred souls at Enron.

Those recorded Enron conversations were chilling. Screw the masses was the motto.

Profit above all.

As social creatures, there is

Elusive Trope — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 13:34:05 +0000

In reply to Maybe people are social and

As social creatures, there is always going to be a certain turmoil between our wiring that facilitates socialability and collectivism and our wiring that promotes self-preservation. Similar turmoil exists for other social creatures, but the introduction of language and culture has not only increased that turmoil, it also facilitates a wider spectrum of expression - with some leaning toward greater individualism and others greater collectivism. Am I a whole unto myself or am I just part of a greater whole. No one is purely in one camp or the other.

During an election, people are fond of saying people vote their pocketbook. If they and their family are doing personally well, than they will be inclined to maintain the status quo, and so on. There is a lot of truth to this sentiment, but what is forgotten in this conventional wisdom is that for many, right behind their interest in their own personal well-being is a concern for the well-being for their "neighbors."

Working for charities all these years, I have seen too many of the people in the top half of the income brackets (i.e. > ~50K median household income) pull out those checkbooks and writes checks for food banks, homeless shelters, and free health clinics and energy assistance programs. Sure there are some that do it solely for the tax benefit, and some who do it to reinforce their notion of being superior to those in need. But the vast majority of them, I believe, do it in large part because they simply believe it is not right that their neighbors suffer at a fundamental level of basic needs.

Romney comments reflect a view that is void of such a belief. There are some that say Romney himself does not really hold this belief, he was merely trying to speak to those who lack this basic concern for those in need. Regardless, he comes across as if he sees the world like they do.

I am reminded of the audio captured of the two guys from Enron talking about how they screwed over Grandma Millie. "....Yeah, now she wants her fuckin’ money back for all the power you’ve charged right up – jammed right up her ass for fuckin’ 250 dollars a megawatt hour."

And the this is - that most people in the upper brackets, the one Romney is trying to swing his way are horrified by such a view of humanity. Sure they are first going to look at things from what is best for them and the ones they are personally connected to, but they would like to believe that while their lives improve, the lives of those who they don't know get better to. That social creature is still there.

Maybe people are social and

Dan Kervick — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 11:57:12 +0000

In reply to "Deserve" would probably not

Maybe people are social and altruistic animals and are naturally resistant to all this personal empowerment and self-"desert" talk characterizing the radical individualism of the modern era. It might be a better approach, from the standpoint of progressive politics at least, to have your mother look at your sister and say, "I want her to have the best that life has to offer, and will fight to get it for her", and have your sister turn to your mother and say the same thing. I'll bet they wouldn't have as much trouble saying those things.

removed by author

moat — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 11:00:10 +0000

In reply to Who Believe They Are Entitled...

*removed by author*