Brats of the Entitlement generation

Thursday, 8:10 pm

Mar

27

2008

I was just reading Paul Krugman’s blog post about the state of Social Security, which claims that SS will be quite solvent for a good long time to come, based on the *real* reading of the recent report by the Social Security Trustees. The same report that has set the right-wing into a frenzy about how insolvent the program is and how we baby boomers are like leeches on the body politic (greedy little brats). I don’t know how such disparate views can be reached reading the same words. And yes, I actually read the darned thing. It’s 120+ pages long, but, if you want to know what’s in it, the primary source is a lot more reliable than *interpretations* by political hacks.

But that’s not what this post is about. It’s the stupid and loaded word, Entitlement, that those who hate the idea of Social Security attach to the program. The comment section to Krugman’s post had a couple of references to the term which, more or less, sent me into orbit. As we all know, that’s a bad word in this free-wheeling, free-market (laissez-faire) economy. That free-wheeling economy that is currently going down the crapper because greed knows no bounds.

As far as I know, Social Security is an insurance program. It was set up to be an insurance program and it still works that way. I have paid into Social Security for a good long time, and when the time comes, I get to withdraw payments based on what I’ve contributed to it. Not one cent more. That’s how insurance works. And, y’know, if I’ve spent considerable years paying into it, I’d damned well better get something out of it, regardless if it offends someone’s laissez-faire ethic.

I’m equally certain that those who brand Social Security as an Entitlement Program are similarly appalled at their monthly/yearly house insurance payments so that if their house burns down, they will get a big fat House Entitlement check (which may include some of my money) to rebuild their house.

Entitlement is a sleazy, weasel-word. And it’s inaccurate. And a cheap shot. And did I mention sleazy and weasely? And slimy?

A happy note for those greedy little bastards who hate the idea of social security insurance...a third to half of us baby boomers will be dead in 20 years...just about the time you reach middle age or retirement. I know you can’t wait. There will be enough left for you guys, no problem. Relax.

Unless, of course, your free-wheeling, unregulated, free-market (laissez faire) economy has totally collapsed and you’re all living with your kids in a three room shack like third world has-beens by then. I’m not discounting that possibility.

Not that the word entitlement trips my wire or anything like that.....

Just the tap of a hammer

Thursday, 1:35 pm

Mar

27

2008

This morning the indoor thermometer read 56.5° F and the outdoor thermometer read 55.4° F. I opened the back door and there really wasn’t a noticeable difference, except that there was a whiff of spring on the outdoor air. At least there was that. Ah well. I shut the door and called the heating company to make an appointment to have the furnace fixed. I think that since I am not living outdoors in a tent, there is a reasonable expectation that my dwelling should be a few degrees warmer than the outdoors.

Funny thing, though. I’ve been working around the house this morning and I am warm. My hands are warm and my nose is warm. But of course. If the repair guy couldn’t come until Monday, I’d be sitting here freezing to death.

So, we’ll see how much this little exercise will cost me. The repair guy just arrived and has been clumping up and down the basement steps looking dour. I hope that’s not a sign.

My wood heating season is officially over. I do have about two days worth of wood left, but that is now reserved for ambiance. I am going to miss my wood stove crackling merrily away and I’ll need to have a pick-me-up session with it a couple more times. It would be helpful if spring would just arrive already. Oh for a day above 60°! I don’t believe there is one in our foreseeable future, though. This has been an abnormally cold spring and that cold air mass out of Canada has just been sitting here torturing us. We’re supposed to have snow tonight!! I’m so ready to hop on a plane and go someplace warm.

Ooookay. That didn’t take long. The water circulation pump was seized. All he had to do was tap it with a hammer and it started right up. I actually had thought of doing that, more out out frustration than anything else. I shoulda. In any case, the pipes are flushed, the furnace innards are cleaned and I have heat. And the bill was minimal. What I also learned was that the pilot light doesn’t even need to be on to start up the furnace/water circulation pump. I didn’t know that. He said to start it up every two weeks and all will be well. I can do that!