Political Concept
In the United States, as of 2013, Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and some other government benefits and payments which are part of the welfare state are called "entitlements", particularly by the right wing.
Technically speaking, a government "entitlement program" refers to one where the amount of spending is determined by the number of people who are eligible for it (and follow its rules). For example, the amount of outlays on the U.S. government's food-stamp program (now known as SNAP, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) depends on the number of eligible people. (See http://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/applicant_recipients/eligibility.htm.) However, many conservative politicians and pundits use the word in a pejorative way.
Read more about this topic: Entitled
Famous quotes containing the words political and/or concept:
“The rank and file have let their servants become their masters and dictators.... Provision should be made in all union constitutions for the recall of leaders. Big salaries should not be paid. Career hunters should be driven out, as well as leaders who use labor for political ends. These types are menaces to the advancement of labor.”
—Mother Jones (1830–1930)
“The nearer a conception comes towards finality, the nearer does the dynamic relation, out of which this concept has arisen, draw to a close. To know is to lose.”
—D.H. (David Herbert)