[Critique Group 1] cleora's late submission for 12/1/21

[sitting.duck at springmail.com]

Sorry this is late. It's not my best work, but of the 4 I've been working on, it is the closest to making any kind of sense at all.
I hope all this craziness ends soon.
 
581 words
entitled
by C. S. Boyd
believing oneself to be inherently deserving of privileges or special treatment.
Is anyone really entitled? A growing number of sources tell us we are. Commercials insist we are entitled to money back on our social security, free meals and rides to the doctor, eye glasses, hearing aids, and the list goes on. We must call immediately to get our share before we miss out. Politicians promise free college education, the perfect job, and freedom to do whatever they want to our youth. Millions of dollars have been spent world wide to bring us a vaccine to protect us from a deadly virus, but you are entitled to catch that virus and die or develop permanent serious health problems as a result, However, regardless of the decision you made not to take precautions, you are entitled to someone else to pick up the tab for your choice.
These entitlements cover almost everything that might be nice, but not necessarily required for us to have a good life.
Are we really "entitled" to government sponsored health care, free college education, vaccines, and not just us, but people from other countries who are not citizens? Advertising typically tries to create a sense of urgency. We might die suddenly and leave our loved ones unprovided for. The fast food restaurant will make its irresistible sandwich our way. The beautiful ladies will flock to the gentleman that owns the fantastic sports car. Now, we are told we are going to miss out on something we are entitled to unless we act immediately. 
We are so incredibly blessed in this country that we have become unbearably arrogant. None of these “entitlements” are free, and most are not even necessary. Someone has to pay for them. That someone is us and our descendants, regardless of what the advertiser or politician says.
Past generations expected to pay for their needs themselves. It was a matter of pride in being self-sufficient. Later generations have bought the idea that they are entitled to these special things for no other reason than they want them.
Exactly what makes me or any other person entitled to free health care, reparation for some past injustice, a new car, or any other special benefit?
This is a sales pitch meant to lure us into buying a product because we are brainwashed into thinking we deserve it. In times past, this would have been referred to as “junk mail”, but the clever advertiser and politician of today have repackaged it to tell us we deserve it.
A feeling of entitlement is hard won.
You suffered to get to the spot you’re in. You were mistreated; worked hard; paid your dues; endured unfair treatment. So, It’s your turn. Justice demands it. You’re aggrieved. Or perhaps the thing you’ve worked so hard on is magical, special and totally worth people’s attention.
You’re entitled. To your grievance or the meeting or even simply, the benefit of the doubt.
Alas: Our entitlement isn’t helpful.
Feeling entitled doesn’t make it more likely that others will listen to you, do what you ask or respect you. Feeling entitled doesn’t get you a sale or make it easier to merge into moving traffic, no matter how long you’ve been waiting.
So yes, you’re entitled. We all are, sooner or later.
But feeling that we’re entitled and demanding that others realize that we’re entitled is completely useless and might even get in the way of what we really want.