The origins of the term " Entitlement Culture"

[Notafraidtoo]

I often see young Conservatives use the Term " Entitlement Culture" to describe what they see is wrong with America.It is often used against consumers who complain that the products they bought are of poor quality,do not work properly and what they would like the product to do. You would think this is helpful feed back to a company but it makes Conservatives very angry causing them to rage and go into a rant about how we have destroyed business in this country.

Of course consumers are not the only ones the right uses the term against, I have seen it used against Union workers,The Elderly,OWS pretty much anyone who says anything against the status quo.


I Have been trying to find the origins of this Republican dog whistle but the best i could come up with is it started in 1989,Does anyone have any idea who first said this? Who invented it? my guess would be Frank Luntz but i have been unable to find the connection.

[alp227]

1. I think it came back into prominence after Romney's 47% comments

A Google search of "entitlement culture" has a variety of results. The #1 is this ESPN.com Insider article "The entitlement culture of elite HS hoops" where the author comments: "Having covered recruiting since 1997, I’ve witnessed a gradual decline in the attitudes of the players, the priorities of their parents and the overall state of the game. If saying so makes me a “hater,” then so be it. It’s the truth -- and any college coach not worried about his standing with recruits will echo the same sentiment."

The 2nd result is this Fox Business article that attacks EVERYTHING ranging from executive compensation to public employee unions to crony capitalism...as if they're all at the same level!

The 4th result is this RedState.com blog that gives the typical right wing framing of "entitlement culture": "Illegal immigrants are of the mind that they’re entitled to opportunities in America regardless of the laws which state they cannot enter the country illegally. Young people believe their entitled to free tuition just because they’re going to college. African Americans believe they’re entitled to special treatment from President Obama just because he shares the same skin color."

The 10th result is another right wing blog that comments: "A large part of the population is composed of an able-bodied but lazy segment of society that siphons off the public dole. Every developed country has them. It’s a perpetual welfare class that doesn’t work because they don’t have to," in response to a story where a Howard University student commented at the Rand Paul town hall: "I want a government that is going to help me. I want a government that is going to help me fund my college education. I want a government that won’t define me by my FAFSA or by my family’s income."

Bottom line is: "entitlement culture" is basically a way to shame anyone who doesn't conform to the rugged individualist perspective.

I'm reading this book The Self-Made Myth right now that criticizes the "rugged individualist" entrepreneur model of success.

I think this whole "entitlement culture", "war on success", "deregulate" framing by the Right is a strategy to sucker the public into accepting corporatist policy and distracting them from getting screwed later.

[Notafraidtoo]

2. I agree

"I think this whole "entitlement culture", "war on success", "deregulate" framing by the Right is a strategy to sucker the public into accepting corporatist policy and distracting them from getting screwed later".

Every time i see it which is often these days it screams right wing think tank to me.

Thank you for linking those sources for those that may be interested in this topic i did take a look at many of those in my search but i would love to know who's brain child it was.