Okay, haven't read more than the first 3 comments. Just got back from vacation, so I'll add a few thoughts and then go back and read.
I think there are a lot of things going on, and as the first few commenters noted -
- American individualism is at play. There's a tendency to be that way, and also a heavy tendency to give ourselves credit for hard work (rightfully so), but ignore privilege and outside factors that helped.
- There's a lack of "movement" in the US, for many people. Part of my vacation was a last-minute trip to my home town. It is very hard to *get" to my home town. The detour cost $1000 ($500 to change my flight and $500 for the rental car. There is literally no other way to get to middle of nowhere PA without a car.) Aside from the occasional trip to Disney World that my SIL and nieces take, they don't *go* anywhere. Their experiences are pretty narrow.
So much of the very short conversations that I had with my 13 year old niece involved statements like "my mom says she's tired of paying for other people's food". I would counter with "well you know most people on food stamps have full time jobs". The response was "well, I'm only a kid, I don't know politics".
Some of this attitude comes because my home town is rural and there aren't many jobs. Everyone knows "someone" who sits at home and draws welfare, and has kids to get more money (but only up to 3 kids). Nobody knows anyone who gets food stamps or welfare and has a job. (Because, you know, people don't talk about that part.)
- Some people never have or see bad things happen to others. Why would I want national health care or Obama care? I have health insurance at work. I don't have cancer. My parents worked at a job where they have a pension and health care along with it. If someone gets cancer, we have a pancake breakfast at the church.
- There's an inability to see the "gray" in anything. "I worked hard and other people are lazy". Some people have the inability to put themselves in other people's shoes. If you are on welfare, you are lazy. If you need food stamps, you should not have had kids. You should pay for your own health insurance or health care. There's no thought to the nuances. The people who lost their jobs when their kids were teenagers (but were able to pay for their kids up until then). The people who lost their jobs and *then* got cancer at age 50, after 30 years of continuous employment. The people who were "uninsurable" due to pre-existing condition, even though all they did is move to a different state. The children whose parents work 2 jobs but go hungry.
Absolutes are easy. Looking at the middle ground is TOO HARD. (yes, many people have kids when they shouldn't. Yes, some people are lazy. Most people are not. Many kids who are awaiting adoption have emotional and physical challenges - fetal alcohol syndrome, etc.) Both "sides" have good points, but there is a middle ground.