The definition of entitled is to give a person a title, right, or claim to something: His executive position entitled him to certain courtesies rarely accorded others. Entitled: to be privileged, honored, privy to, indulged.
Too many people have this asinine sense of entitlement. They think that they have a right to certain privileges, items and opportunities that the general population isn't typically allowed- at the expense of those around them.
Two incidents have sparked this current rant of mine.
The first are certain patients at work. Specifically, a few Medi-Cal patients. I am not irritated with all Medi-Cal patients in general. I am very thankful that those programs exist for people who NEED it. They give medical care to people who have lost their job, single parents who can't quite make ends meet, foster children, just to name a few groups of people this tax-payer, government funded program aids... I AM highly irritated by the people on this program that feel they are entitled to things that are above and beyond "typical" coverage.
A short synopsis of where I work, to better understand... I work in an optometry office in a retirement area. There are smaller communities nearby with younger families, as well. We have patients of all income levels, all walks of life. Because of government overspending and budget problems, providers that take the program, who only get paid a very small percentage of their usual fees to start with, are now having to accept another decrease in their payments. No problems so far- we don't have issues seeing these patients- who for the most part, are thankful they have any coverage at all. BUT... We have patients come into our office annoyed and angry that Medi-Cal doesn't cover designer frames and upgraded eyeglass lenses. The Medi-Cal program covers the bare minimum. You have to have a certain strength of prescription before they will even consider covering the glasses; the coverage is every two years; they only cover certain frames; they cover basic lenses- no tints, no coatings, no specialty lenses; and they take awhile to come back to us- glasses for Medi-Cal patients are made by the California State Prisons system- and our county specifically by Valley State Prison for Women- Chowchilla. Yes- prisoners make the glasses- and they actually do a pretty good job. They do take awhile to be made though, because of all the security it has to go through- typical turn-around time- three weeks. And heaven forbid if their is a security problem- i.e. LOCKDOWN, at the prison- because it takes even longer. Anyways- I digress... We have certain patients who are on the Medi-Cal program, that do nothing but complain about everything. It just annoys me that these people have the nerve to complain about things that are FREE to them. That they feel entitled to those things that most people have to work their butts off to pay for! UGH!
The second part of the rant- includes people who feel they are entitled to certain privileges COMBINED with inhumane treatment of other people- specifically family members. There are very few things that I believe people are entitled, or have rights to... The basic principles this country is founded upon, is about it.
I believe nobody is ENTITLED to anything more than that. If you want more- you need to work hard and earn it yourself. Nothing is handed to you on a silver platter- nor a golden one either. If you want an elevated status amongst your peers- you must earn it. If you want nicer things in life, you need to work hard, make some money and earn it."We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."
The level by with which you are treated needs to earned as well. In my eyes, each person is automatically given a level of respect when I first meet them. The way they handle themselves and relate to me from there on out- dictates the amount of trust, and respect I have for them. And most people are the same way. You are granted a neutral stance, and you can either go up or down from there. Trust must be earned, and can be quickly lost. Even family members fall into this category. You treat another family member poorly- you don't DESERVE, and are not entitled to be treated fairly. Civily- yes, in most cases. But in no way, shape or form are you entitled to treatment similar to someone who treats you well- whether your title is mom or dad, or the person you see daily at the post office.
While I am on this current rant- a mention that no family member is entitled to any form of gift, be it monetary, time, or items. And I am not meaning gifts in general- although that is part of it- I am meaning above and beyond the normal. Someone has some extra cash- you are not entitled to it. Someone has an extra ticket to a game- you are not entitled to it. Someone has an extra plane ticket- guess what- you aren't entitled to it. You are not entitled to such things from a parent. You are not entitled to such things from a sibling. You are not entitled to such things from a spouse. And especially not from a child- no matter what age that child may be.
Am done whining and complaining about people's false sense of entitlement. It does no good- and as much as one can try- people with attitudes like this cannot be changed... They can be ignored though... So, guess what, all you people in my life that have an outrageously false sense of entitlement- I am ignoring you.
Childish- most definitely- But- oh well- I am entitled to it (wink)...
