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6A Daily News – Tuesday, December 27, 2011 Opinion D NEWSAILY RED BLUFF TEHAMACOUNTY T H E V O I C E O F T E H A M A C O U N T Y S I N C E 1 8 8 5 Entitlement mentality: Not just a fiscal threat Greg Stevens, Publisher gstevens@redbluffdailynews.com Chip Thompson, Editor editor@redbluffdailynews.com Editorial policy The Daily News opinion is expressed in the editorial. The opinions expressed in columns, letters and cartoons are those of the authors and artists. Letter policy The Daily News welcomes let- ters from its readers on timely topics of public interest. All let- ters must be signed and pro- vide the writer's home street address and home phone num- ber. Anonymous letters, open letters to others, pen names and petition-style letters will not be allowed. Letters should be typed and cannot exceed two double-spaced pages or 500 words. When several letters address the same issue, a cross section of those submit- ted will be considered for publi- cation. Letters will be edited. 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How to reach us Main office: 527-2151 Classified: 527-2151 Circulation: 527-2151 News tips: 527-2153 Sports: 527-2153 Obituaries: 527-2151 Photo: 527-2153 On the Web www.redbluffdailynews.com Fax Newsroom: 527-9251 Classified: 527-5774 Retail Adv.: 527-5774 Legal Adv.: 527-5774 Business Office: 527-3719 Address 545 Diamond Ave. Red Bluff, CA 96080, or P.O. Box 220 Red Bluff, CA 96080 Christmastime is a season of gratitude. Whether it's because we reflect upon the birth of the Christ child or the blessings of the past year, the holiday often prompts a sense of appreciation and thankfulness, as well as the tradition of gift-giving. And this year, the season of giving and receiving gifts comes in sharp contrast to a suc- cession of months pervaded with a sense of entitlement. An entitlement mentality — a sense of being owed some- thing for nothing — settles in when people interpret wants as needs and then view those needs as rights. And once something is understood as a "right," peo- ple tend to hold government responsible for providing it. This "government-owes-us" mentality threatens not only the spirit of Christmas but the very fabric of a just and prosperous society. For America's founders, the list of basic individual rights included life, liberty and prop- erty. The founders asserted that God provides these rights and governments are responsible to protect them. Over the years, the list of what Americans think they deserve from government has ballooned. Visit an "Occupy" protest encampment, and you'll hear claims for the right to a high-paying job, home owner- ship, comprehensive health care and freedom from college debt. Many Americans think retire- ment at age 65 is an automatic right, regardless of circum- stances. And, around the holiday sea- son, some of our citizens pro- claim the supposed right not to be offended by religious sym- bols displayed in public. Many events of 2011, from the uprising in Greece to the downgrading of America's cred- it rating, revealed the dangers of runaway spending on Social Security and other entitlement programs. Less noticed was the degrading effect an insidious entitlement mentality has on the moral fabric of a people. Such a "we're due" attitude can suppress aspiration and sap the ambition to work. It often accompanies envy and class warfare. And it can weaken per- sonal bonds of mutual responsi- bility and care among citizens. This outlook, of course, clashes with the attitudes of gift-giving and thankfulness that mark the Christmas season. Giving gifts can be a power- ful thing. Gifts create a kind of momentum of good will that bind both giver and receiver in a more personal relationship. The giver often is motivated by the desire to help, while the receiv- er usually is motivated by grati- tude to give back, at a mini- mum, an expression of thanks. This seemingly basic dynam- ic is important when it comes to tackling social ills. If conditions permit, gift-givers often have a vested interest in seeing that the desired objective of their help is achieved. For exam- ple, we desire the recipient to use our gift of money to pur- chase food instead of illegal drugs. By the same token, the receiver often desires to demonstrate good stewardship of the gift — by using it wisely rather than wastefully, for instance. Entitlements foster a differ- ent social relationship, mainly because governments typically deliver the benefits through impersonal, top-down pro- grams. These aren't personal, volun- tary acts taken on behalf of a friend, neighbor or someone else we know. Entitlement pro- grams are funded by taxes, which government mandates under threat of penalty. The requirement often fosters a sense of resentment among tax- payers rather than a desire to help others. And on the other side, an entitlement mentality tends to undercut the feeling and offer- ing of gratitude. In fact, some- times that sense of entitlement tempts recipients to "play" the system, leading to waste, fraud and long-term dependence on the dole. In short, ever-expanding entitlements aren't just a fiscal Guest View Ryan Messmore liability; they're a moral threat as well. They have the power to shape cultural attitudes and social dynamics. Americans need to be aware of this poten- tial, so we not only can avoid financial collapse but also fos- ter the kinds of rela- tionships most con- ducive to genuine compassion and flourishing. As we celebrate the holidays, let's give thanks for — and dili- gently protect — our God-given rights. But let's also pay atten- tion to the dynamics that play out with the giving and receiv- ing of presents. This is a season for reflecting especially on gifts of grace — blessings to which we aren't necessarily entitled. May grati- tude move us to give freely and generously to others in the New Year. Ryan Messmore is a research fellow in the Richard and Helen DeVos Center for Religion and Civil Society at The Heritage Foundation. Readers may write to the author in care of The Heritage Foundation, 214 Massachusetts Avenue NE, Washington, D.C. 20002; Web site: www.heritage.org. Information about Heritage's funding may be found at http://www.heritage.org/about/r eports.cfm. Your officials STATE ASSEMBLYMAN — Jim Nielsen (R) State Capitol Bldg., Room 6031 Sacramento, CA 95814 (916) 319-2002; Fax (916) 319-2102 STATE SENATOR — Doug LaMalfa (R) State Capitol Bldg., Room 3070 Sacramento, CA 95814 (916) 651-4004; Fax (916) 445-7750 GOVERNOR — Jerry Brown, State Capitol Bldg., Sacramento, CA 95814; (916) 445-2841; Fax (916) 558-3160; E-mail: gover- nor@governor.ca.gov. U.S. REPRESENTATIVE — Wally Herger (R), 2595 Cean- othus Ave., Ste. 182, Chico, CA 95973; 893-8363. U.S.SENATORS — Dianne Feinstein (D), One Post Street, Suite 2450, San Francisco, CA 94104; (415) 393-0707. Fax (415) 393-0710. Barbara Boxer (D), 1700 Montgomery St., Suite 240, San Francisco, CA 94111; (510) 286-8537. Fax (202) 224- 0454. Will Durst's 2011 Xmas Gift Wish List Commentary Bah humbug, everybody. And I imagine that sentiment is being echoed by more than a few of you overly familiar with the soft, dark underbelly of this "happiest time of the year." Those of us who have been washed prone by the gushing holiday faucet of red and green greed and are dread- ing the repurposed solstice cele- bration as it drips down the gut- ter of melancholy, revealing the regurgitated fruitcake of gloom and despair. Whoa. Wow. Sorry about that. Then again; what the hell. Pass a cookie and another glass of nog and go easy on the nut- meg and heavy on the brandy, because this warm, comforting holly jolly Xmas spirit needs be relit. And to honor all you brave and steadfast consumers setting new records in your patriotic quest to sink heavily into debt to honor the birth of that Jewish hippie kid; we hope to rectify the sins of omission perpetrated by the corpulent bearded one in the scarlet suit by offering up to the most deserving of us -- this annual scathingly incisive, yet always trenchant, WILL DURST'S 2011 XMA$ GIFT WI$H LI$T. For Newt Gingrich: who admits he says anything that flies into his head: a tiny, rabid West African Hummingbird. For Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker: the AFL- CIO's Organizer of the Year Award. For the East Coast: who whimpered for weeks after both a small earthquake and a slight brushing from a near hurricane: a 12-month supply of chill pills. For American Philatelists: some glue for their Barack Obama stamps that won't stick to anything; and glossy coating for the one honoring Mitt Rom- ney, which inexplicably causes people to spit on the wrong side. For Joe Biden: a satellite phone that works from the depths of whatever trench he's going to be sent for the next year. For Speaker of the House John Boehner: a gift certificate to Kaiser Permanente, good for one surgical procedure to remove that unsightly Tea Party growth clinging to his back. For the Penn State University Athletic Department: Harry Pot- ter's invisibility cloak. For President Obama: a con- tinuing series of ill-timed, prin- cipled stands by the Republican House. For the Tea Party: a boatload of petards upon which they can hoist themselves. For Barry Bonds: the plea- sure of his own company for as long as he can stand it. For the Mayans: one of those really cute "Baby Monkey Riding on a Pig" cal- endars for 2013. For Sarah Palin: a series of hedges to lurk behind for the next 10 months. For Alec Baldwin: an unlimited refillable prescription for Xanax in a carrying case suit- able for travel. For Angela Merkel and the Euro Zone: a diet book explaining how to thrive without Greece. For Tim Cook, the For Grover Norquist: a one- way ticket on the clue train. Tax- deductible, of course. For Charlie Sheen: a personal anger coun- selor on 24-hour call. For Donald Trump: a stainless steel muzzle and detailed instruc- tions on how to install it. With rivets. Will new CEO of Apple: a worldwide epidemic of Jobs amnesia. For Rick Perry, Michele Bachmann, Jon Huntsman, et al.: prestigious offers for dean- ships from various universities so they can retreat with a sem- blance of dignity. For Herman Cain: his own hour-long network talk show with an all-male production staff. For Anthony Weiner: see above. Durst Raging Moderate And for all the rest of us: a reality TV show called Celebrity Russian Roulette star- ring the Kardashians. With the winner des- tined to become revered as… The Last Kardashian. Will Durst is a political comedian who has performed around the world. He is a familiar pundit on television and radio. E-mail Will at durst@caglecartoons.com. Check out willandwillie.com for the latest podcast. Will Durst's book, "The All American Sport of Bipartisan Bashing," is available from Amazon and better bookstores all over this great land of ours. Don't forget to check out his rooftop comedy minutes at: http://www.rooftopcomedy.com/s hows/BurstOfDurst.