Charleston Gazette-Mail – Entitlement. When did it become a dirty word? Read the full op-ed.
In government services, it refers to a program that is available to all who are eligible, like Medicare or Social Security. If you meet the qualifications, you can get the benefits. And it’s no coincidence that these programs for older adults are among the most popular government programs.
On the other hand, programs for children — like child care subsidies — are operated on a more limited basis, via fixed block grants. This creates a first-come, first-served program, where constant underfunding means lots of people who meet the eligibility for the program cannot access it or the program’s eligibility is so limited that few people qualify.
