Steven Pearlstein has written an op-ed for the Washington Post that deserves front page status. Unfortunately, it the dead-tree version of The Post, it was relegated to the back page. But every single person using the "job creator" meme needs
October 1, 2012

Steven Pearlstein has written an op-ed for the Washington Post that deserves front page status. Unfortunately, in the dead-tree version of The Post, it was relegated to the back page. But every single person using the "job creator" meme needs to answer this question: who are truly demanding entitlements?

I am the misunderstood superhero of American capitalism, single-handedly creating wealth and prosperity despite all the obstacles put in my way by employees, government and the media.

I am a job creator and I am entitled.

I am entitled to complain about the economy even when my stock price, my portfolio and my profits are at record levels.

I am entitled to a healthy and well-educated workforce, a modern and efficient transportation system and protection for my person and property, just as I am entitled to demonize the government workers who provide them.

I am entitled to complain bitterly about taxes that are always too high, even when they are at record lows.

Teacher Ken at DKos called my attention to the op-ed and ends his post this way:

There are these obnoxious statements:

I am entitled to all the rights and privileges of running an American company, but owe no loyalty to American workers or taxpayers.

I am entitled to confidential information about my employees and customers while refusing even to list the company’s phone number on its Web site.

But even with all he lists, Pearlstein realizes he has not exhausted the sense of entitlement of folks like these.

Which is why he ends with this:

I am entitled to everything I have and more that I still deserve.

Like, if you are Mitt Romney, your belief you are entitled to be President of the United States?

Exactly. So remind me again in this most wealthiest nation in the world with ever-growing economic inequality, just who is it who is so frickin' entitled?

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