Thomas Sowell on Spoiled Brat Politics

Dr. Sanity points to an interesting article from Dr. Thomas Sowell:

Spoiled Brat Politics
Thomas Sowell at Townhall.com:

An editorial in a recent issue of the National Geographic's "Traveler" magazine complained that kayakers in Maine found "residential development" near national parks and urged its readers to use their "influence" to prevent such things.

"You are the stakeholders in our national parks," it said.

Really? What stake do kayakers and others of like mind have that is not also a stake held by people who build the vacation homes whose presence offends the kayak set? Homeowners are just as much citizens and taxpayers as kayakers are, and they are even entitled to equal treatment under the 14th Amendment.

The essence of bigotry is denying others the same rights you claim for yourself. Green bigots are a classic example.

The idea that government is supposed to make your desires override the desires of other citizens has spread from the green bigots to other groups who claim privileges in the name of rights.

And Dr. Sanity offers these thoughts:

Sowell rightly refers to this as "spoiled brat" politics. It results in the transformation of providing "equal opportunity" to providing "equal outcomes". It leads to a world where, "all the women are strong, all the men are good-looking, and all the children are above average." Garrison Keillor may think that is a sort of ideal place, but in reality, it is a place where the mediocre is glorified; and where it is a sin to be above average.

And a bit more from the good Dr.

In psychiatry we use the term "sense of entitlement" to describe the outrageous attitude of some of our more narcissistic clients who believe that the world "owes" them and they want to collect NOW. Patients with this type of attitude always want more. Whatever you do is never good enough for them, and they also generally show no gratitute or express any thanks--even when someone goes out of their way for them. Like the most spoiled of royalty, they merely expect that they should be the center of your world at all times.

This attitude is normally seen in toddlers, who want what they want and they want it now. Every parent has had to deal with this kind of whining. When you see this attitude repeatedly in an adult, then you know you are dealing with psychopathology. Many adults whimper at the slightest inconvenience, delay, or restriction. Why? Because, like toddlers, they are convinced they deserve what they want when they want it. They are "entitled" to it.

At any rate, read Sowell's entire article, and you will begin to understand why the victimhood game is so popular and why the number of spoiled brats in our society is growing exponentially.

Good stuff from both of them. We saw "entitlement" with Katrina and we saw much less of it with Rita. Blue-State New Orleans v/s Red-State Texas -- any thoughts on that?