Take a few moments to understand the political language being thrown back and forth right now at the GOP convention in Tampa and the conservative blogosphere. Many things are intentionally disguised as code words to ensure the message is so watered down and ambiguous that most voters don’t really and truly understand where their candidate stands on an issue.

Then take a few more moments to understand the implications imposed; a right in this country is considered an entitlement. Women are entitled to a right to choose and equal pay for an equal amount of work performed. Men are entitled to an honest days work… Americans are entitled to a voice in this democracy through their right to vote, that too is an entitlement.

Entitlement reform typically in this election season refers to different forms of rights. As an American citizen, you should have the right to receive help when you lose your job due to no fault of your own. For this reason, corporations are required to pay certain fees to each state to ensure checks are paid out in that event. Why are we still legislating this type of aide for citizens?

Every American who qualifies should receive assistance with food. Our government has long instituted a program where this has proved invaluable, yet, we discuss it in the public arena as a negative. The Americans who currently receive this benefit, once were vibrant members of the working class with upward mobility. Today, they take underemployed, if employed at all. Politicians should realize there is a difference between unemployed and the unemployable.

The hard truth is, working Americans represent tax revenue or income for the government. When that income is affected, Americans are unemployed, the bills for the government still must be paid, but cuts in the government’s budget have to made to adjust to the lower government income. That is understandable of course.

Republicans believe you should cut services; the services that are causing the higher costs. Democrats believe you should either raise taxes on those who could afford to pay more, assess fees to revenue generating tools like permits, various licensure i.e. passports, or taking on the red ink in the balance sheet as debt. Democrats don’t mind taking on debt for social entitlements. Republicans don’t mind taking on debt for national defense entitlements.

So now that we are at the crossroads, everyone has had to reveal their hand. Dems have to show they don’t mind more debt with so many in need for food, jobs and homes. Politically, they can’t admit that for fear of it being used against them. To date, republicans are running ads calling President Obama “the food stamp president as if he should be shamed for ensuring more people have access to food in this rough economy…that they admit they are responsible for.

Republicans cannot admit to disregarding their clarion calls for debt reduction when they see national defense on the table. Billions upon billions have been added to the national debt for space programs, wars without coalitions, nation building and etc. Republicans cannot admit they don’t mind these expenditures on the balance sheet.

Paul Ryan cannot admit he voted for nearly $7 Trillion dollars of debt programs under President George W. Bush…he has attempted to redefine himself as a disciplined budget hawk, so clearly, he can’t admit the obvious votes he has casted, so he lies and pretend he didn’t cast them, hoping you forgot. However, PoliticianNextDoor.com has a long memory.

Entitlements are not just social needs, they are rights for the citizens of this nation. Romney wanted them for the people of Massechusetts and Ryan wanted them for the people of Janesville WI, and just as recent as yesterday, Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal requested federal aid for the people of New Orleans due to Hurricane Isaac. We believe all are acceptable. Governor Jindal will get his entitlements, and any American who demonstrates the the need, who has invested in it and supports it are entitled.

Every basic right is an entitlement. Blacks weren’t given the right to vote by God, that was an act of government. Women were not treated fairly by the universe, that was a long fight on the floor of the United States Congress. Freedom of religion was not decided by the moon or the stars, but instead by the “big government” most conservatives hate so much.

We should all want Americans to receive what they are entitled too. However, entitlements don’t stop there. Neither party has the right answer so regardless of who becomes president, the Legislative branch will be working overtime to define our nation’s new way forward. You, Dear Neighbor, are entitled to learn the laws, champion them, make them better through our democratic process and activism. Despite the gray areas, you are required to read between the lines. That’s my story and um sticking to it.

PoliticianNextDoor.com
Antron Johnson