...The "Society of Entitlement" sings loudly for justice; the marquess of justice I hear here, but alas only INjustice appear:

...In a world brimmed with hunger and fear! Sing the hymn loudly "No justice, no justice" sing it clear; but as always and ever, a dirge for deaf ear!

Free health and education don't exist. These services are paid for by the taxpayer. In the case of higher education half of the costs are permenantly born by the taxpayer, many of whom, for various reasons, were unable to access this "right"
Today, no Australian citizen needs money to attend university. The bill doesn't become due until they are earning a reasonable wage, and in the case of women, sometimes this never happens, because they elect to work part time whilst raising children and beyond.
As for social security, in the case of the unemployed under 30's they are in no danger of losing their money if they either attend a training course or do volunteer work. Their right to taxpayers money is balanced by their obligations to actually do something in return for it.
Aged pensioners should not be complaining. I'm one, and I manage to live a reasonably comfortable life. I don't have a lot of luxuries, but then I never expected taxpayers to keep me in luxury. Or cigarettes. Or alcohol. Or poker chips. Or any of the other "wants" as opposed to "needs" in people's lives.

<<Human rights are entitlements that nations have collectively agreed>>

There your arguments end, Sharon, be they otherwise worthwhile or not.

By relying for your arguments on this non-existent entity called 'nation', or be it Santa-Claus for that matter, you have removed the discussion to fantasy-land.

Real and ordinary people were never consulted and never agreed to have their name used collectively, presuming them to be a 'nation' without consent. Whatever others agreed between them, including in the international arena, is therefore non-binding on ordinary people.

Our freedom is natural, God-given: we don't need governments to give us the pittance of 'rights' in return for the freedom they rob.

Without human rights, we still have child labor, slave labor, and absolute monarchs doing as they please.
People could be sent down the pits with nothing more than a candle and a pick; and an absolute plethora of far worse things.
I mean, we wouldn't even own our own bodies or retain an inherent right to say no, to the rich, powerful and privileged!
And anyone who knows about the highland clearances, and the story of the black and tans, knows what I mean!
We have signed international covenants, that guarantee various human rights!
Yet most of our, I believe, relatively worthless self serving pollies, just don't want us to have them incorporated as a bill of irrevocable rights.
If you don't believe that too many are inherently self indulgent and little else,, just look at the passing parade in and out of ICAC!
We are their masters, not visa versa!
The way to reverse this patent nonsense, or "absolute monarchism", is to always put the incumbent last on the ballot paper!
Should we do that, the pollies will finally understand, that they are indeed our servants, rather than our, virtually self appointed masters, doling out privileges, almost as if this was still a penal colony!
Rhrosty.

Afterthought:
Balancing the budget is just not that difficult, albeit, some patently unearned undeserved entitlements would simply have to go.
Including negative gearing; tax breaks on rich super; subsidized high value private health insurance; and free health and education for millionaires; and, pensions for people who are essentially multimillionaires!
Ditto maternity leave!
When the real need is affordable child care, for the less well off!
We need people handed the onerous responsibility, of governing in our name, [all of us,] to understand the huge difference, between basic rights, and plum privileges/cronyism/ and inexcusable self indulgence!
Rhrosty

Dear Rhrosty,

The highest a donkey can think is "maybe my master will not hit me today".

I don't want them as masters and I don't want them as servants - I want them all out of my life! I don't need their pieces of paper either, telling me that in their infinite grace and mercy they've granted me some "irrevocable rights".

When Diogenes was asked by Alexander the Great what he could do for him, Diogenes replied: "Would you please step aside, Sir, so your body doesn't block the warmth of the sun-rays".