We have such a myth of (material) progress in America. Things are always going to get better, and we need never sacrifice our way of life for anything. (The president says so.)

I agree that entitlement is a key word here. According to Mr. Beck, we are entitled to take our American pilgrimage to Disney World. We are entitled to travel overseas whenever we want, as long as we can afford a ticket. No doubt we are entitled to cheap gas, too. Blah, blah, blah...