One of the most dangerous words in the English language is "entitlement." It helped create, and continues to fuel, the current economic meltdown. It underscores a dangerous lack of accountability and honesty by some of our leaders - and ourselves.

A county government official recently told me that just the "pension obligations owed to firefighters and police" were keeping him up at night. One thing that so many large employers have in common - from car companies, to the U.S. Postal Service, to local governments - is massive pension obligation that are wreaking havoc on their bottom lines and threatening their viability.

But why should anyone be "entitled" to a pension? The fact is, the vast majority of Americans have no access to a pension, do not expect one, and will never get one. And if they don't get a pension for the hard work and long hours they put in, why should a shrinking minority be "entitled" to one?

I would argue that, although police and firefighters are deserving, in our current economic climate no one other than career military members are "entitled" to a pension. If you are a member of Congress who currently gets a very generous pension and free health insurance for life, I ask you: "Why, when you are paid by the people, are you entitled to something your constituents will never get?"