The "Entitlement" attitude can only succeed if two factors are met: (1) Somebody with such an attitude, and (2) somebody willing to pander to those who do. Cut off the teenage nagging students, cut off the angry dictators and their diplomats, and prepare to defend yourself with words and arms.

Then three possibilities remain:
1) They starve.
2) They change.
3) They beat you into submission.

Only if you are willing to contemplate the first possibility can you succeed.

(Of course, you could always invade their premises...but then some court somewhere may cut you down.)
Solomon2 | Email | Homepage | 12.28.04 - 4:18 pm | #

It's past time to get the U.S. out of the U.N. Unfortunately, I have no real hope that we will do so. Do you?
Frank Villon | Email | Homepage | 12.28.04 - 5:00 pm | #

This might be another crack in the public perception of the U.N., though the newscast I was inadvertently watching didn't ID the "critical agency" by name.
But given that the stricken nations aren't the ones doing the whining, of course we're going to help them. It's like my friend Marge tells people who question our work for the babies at the county hospital: "Yes, we wish people wouldn't have babies if they can't afford them, but they do. And those babies are nekkid, so we should do something about that, don't you think?"
I'm just hoping this doesn't turn into a Basra situation in some nations.
Sal | Email | Homepage | 12.29.04 - 9:53 am | #

Oh, NOW I get it: all those years, I was dating females who were secret UN employees!!
L. Barnes | Email | Homepage | 12.29.04 - 11:15 am | #

I like the name "League of Looters"! It accurately describes the UN and its actions. You should do a separate post dedicated to that.
Anonymous | Email | Homepage | 01.02.05 - 2:42 pm | #

Dr. Sanity(?)
It may be better if you stick to psychology and leave the politics for those who understand the historical and socio-economic interpalys leading to why the US feels the need to "donate" to other nations. The other nations have a "sense of entitlement?" wow. For your information most of the money that the US gives back to other nations does not even amount to a negligible fraction of what they take away via "free trade" "neocolonialism" and the like. The unfair trade terms, the exploitation of the resources of other nations and the behind the scene installation of political groups that support the US's economic interests in these nations fosters rather "a sense of duty" or more like "guilt" by which the Us gives back. The money actually covers their tracks. Also, about the UN. The US actually gets more use out of the UN than the UN out of the US. The UN presents a platform by whcih the US can promote its interests and have easy access to "negotiating" with other nations while appearing to be good. There is a lot that you need to find out for yourself instead of taking face-value what you see in the media. Try being born in a country where neocolonialism is prevalent,where natural resources abound yet have become the very curse by which foreign powers exploit your land. Otherwise, just thank God for your life and stop making unwarranted assumptions.
Wisdom Proverbs | Email | Homepage | 11.28.07 - 2:13 am | #

I also find it interesting that you complain that other countries feel a sense of entitlement to US generosity, painting them as pathological, while failing to mention the psychopathology that leads a nation to be founded on the genocide of native peoples and an economy sustained by slavery. It's not as if the US earned all this wealth free and clear and then others are pathologically demanding we share. It's more like we robbed the bank and now some people want some of that money back.
Howard | Email | Homepage | 12.09.07 - 2:29 am | #

What a bunch or nerds. Get a life!
Fred | Email | Homepage | 05.21.08 - 3:43 pm | #

I had never thought of it this way before. I live and love quite a few of these types of people (not easily, though). I could have been one except for one thing: I care about people and how my actions and reactions affect them. It matters. Thank God! While I can sympathize with other countries and I also promote their plights (Darfur, for example), I do agree there are a FEW countries that do seem to have a sense of entitlement. And yep, it comes out that they hate the collective "us." Others, though, are grateful for what they get.

And for the naysayers, trust me, America has plenty of problems, like thinking we are so great, and always right (or at least more right than nearly everyone else), yet we really blew it when our own country needed us. Even if individually, we each sent stuff to help those who suffered in Florida, California, or Louisiana, notice it got hardly any air (news) play, yet we continued to talk about dropping aid to North, to the former Burma, etc.

We have a bit to learn ourselves. Other than that, you described it all quite well and in verse that is totally easy to understand.

Thank you.
True Crime Fanatic | Email | Homepage | 07.15.08 - 6:56 am | #