Elon Musk’s assertion that “the number of people who are super talented engineers and super motivated in the USA is far too low” was hit with an immediate wave of criticism. While Musk’s statement may be true, a deeper issue may be the prevailing sense of privilege rather than gratitude among a large segment of young Americans entering the workforce. They are put to shame by the strong work ethic of immigrants, driven by gratitude for the opportunities the United States offers, strengthening their desire to stay. Some American college graduates make for poor contrast, seeking not opportunity but a focus on “safe space” and an emphasis on individual needs over collective responsibility.

This attitude, often called entitlement, springs from the belief that one deserves something, often without having earned it or having a legitimate claim to it. It is a sense of having a right to certain benefits, regardless of the needs or contributions of others. Entitlement can manifest in various ways, such as expecting special treatment, feeling superior to others, or demanding things without consideration for the consequences.

Gratefulness, on the other hand, is the quality or state of recognizing that no matter how much we give, others give more back to us, constantly. Above all, it is an appreciation for what one has, rather than focusing on what one lacks. Gratitude involves recognizing and acknowledging the positive aspects of life, both big and small, and expressing appreciation for the people and things that contribute to one’s well-being. It is a mindset that focuses on abundance and positivity, rather than scarcity and negativity.

The distinction is critical in today’s competitive global market.

Entitlement and gratefulness traits can be discovered based on Your Tax Return Selfie, a copyrighted process developed by Dan Hutchins, a CPA in Overland Park, Kansas. Hutchins has reviewed tax returns of U.S. Presidents going back to Eisenhower and determined which were entitled and grateful. It should come as no surprise that President Biden is the most entitled president in modern history. In a year when Biden received W2 wages of $200,000, his total charitable giving was $300, about one-tenth of one percent. His charitable giving in relationship to income remains consistently low throughout his career. His recent actions only confirm this attitude. In contrast, President Trump’s tax return shows he is grateful. Trump’s income is all self-created and comes from assets he has built over the years on his own. Building tremendous wealth demonstrates gratefulness. Furthermore, when he became president, he did not take a salary, which is a contribution to the country. Finally, he is very charitable through his foundation and corporate giving. An example is the Al Smith dinner that he began attending with his father as a young man, demonstrating his father training him to be charitable and instilling in him the virtue of gratefulness.

This is perhaps indicative of the political divide in America today.

Managerial science offers some guidance on managing these personality differences in the workplace. Richard Beyer, Ph.D., President of INTEGRITAS®, a company in Kansas City, Missouri, conducts personality assessments of prospective employees for organizations to predict person-job-culture fit. Beyer says, “There is no universally ‘good’ or ‘bad’ personality profile for various jobs.” Nevertheless, profiles have positive and negative implications based on organizational culture and job requirements. Premier assessments measure bright-side personality characteristics, dark-side attributes (e.g., entitlement), motives, values, and preferences. Psychometrically sound assessments improve hiring accuracy and are best used for both selection and development.

As the incoming administration’s DOGE leaders look to improve America’s productivity and competitiveness, it would be helpful if they took a hard look at the issue of entitlement in a multifaceted approach that includes:

It will do us no good for DOGE to reform the operations of the government if we don’t also work to reform the culture. That begins not in Washington, but with every parent, student, and teacher. A culture shift from entitlement to is perhaps the greatest long-term reform we could make.

Appointed a U.S. Federal Judge and serving the Court in Richmond, Virginia, Elliot M. Kaplan now consults formulating and managing strategies in litigation, legislation, and regulatory matters.