I wouldn't put social security in the "entitlement" category. It's essentially a pension (put more in, get more out), but if a private pension were run like SS, its directors would all be in jail.
I consider an entitlement a program where benefit received is disconnected from payment (usually taxes), or is inversely connected.
Unemployment insurance, if done properly, would not be an entitlement (essentially a portion of your paycheck is used as the premium). The problem is that both the premium and the coverage period are set politically, not actuarially.
Medicare and SS are the very definition of "entitlement programs". If a program guarantees you something and is not directly dependent on how much you put in, its an entitlement. While SS does set payments based on your contributions to an extent, it also guarantees payments that are independent on the overall amount you paid in.
Given that the average lifetime at the onset of SS was 63, few ever lived long enough to receive back their entire investment. Today the opposite is true: many live long past their contribution, and keep on collecting. Hence, you have an entitlement.
Same with Medicare. You can take out much more than you put in.
I got 8. I think my idea of entitlements is different than theirs. If the money is taken from you and your employer by force, it is not an entitlement to get it back.
I consider an entitlement a program where benefit received is disconnected from payment (usually taxes), or is inversely connected.
Unemployment insurance, if done properly, would not be an entitlement (essentially a portion of your paycheck is used as the premium). The problem is that both the premium and the coverage period are set politically, not actuarially.
Given that the average lifetime at the onset of SS was 63, few ever lived long enough to receive back their entire investment. Today the opposite is true: many live long past their contribution, and keep on collecting. Hence, you have an entitlement.
Same with Medicare. You can take out much more than you put in.
I need to dig deeper into this...I pride myself for arguing with 'facts', but on this subject I am mostly arguing from my gut feeling.