Reply #109: 'Entitlement" was ALWAYS intended to be a dirty word. That's why Reagan used

[Lorien]

it to rebrand social programs-EARNED BENEFITS- as "entitlements", as in "does your brat think that he's entitled to another cookie?" "Do you think that you're entitled to a six figure income?" The word comes from the idle rich: the titled landed gentry who were given riches and perks by birthright, never earning a damn thing through hard work. THAT'S why Reagan rebranded social programs; to make them seem like unearned givaways to the lazy and irresponsible. We should never use Reagan's term.