No offense, but when economists or politicians refer to entitlements, they are referring to unfunded liabilities owed to current and future generations -  they are not making moral judgements.

I understand what you mean about people working hard and paying taxes, but they are not paying contributions towards these entitlements per se. Social Security in the US is a Pay as you Go (PAYGO) pension scheme that was created in 1935 as part of the New Deal. Pensions to seniors in 1936 we paid for by payroll contributions of workers and employers in 1936, and so it is to this day. 

With the senior population having ballooned as it has, the cost of these entitlements are unbearable to a generation of working class, heads of household that are already being "sandwiched" between raising their own children and caring for their parents who are living longer lives.

Everyone likes the idea of taxing someone else to preserve their benefits, but there's only so many times you can go to that well.