It may go back to this country’s Puritanical roots, or it could stem from the 19th century’s preoccupation with industrialism and capitalism, but the prevailing beliefs are:
— Government is bad, bad, bad, and every service should be provided by privately-held companies. People should never pool their resources, or make even a small sacrifice, for public policy and the greater good. I’ve never heard anyone object to roads, public schools, running water, or sewage, but, heck, I guess those things don’t count.
— What’s mine is mine. People want to keep every penny that they earn. They expect to receive Social Security benefits after they retire, and they’ll lean on society at large throughout their lifetimes, but those things should be paid out of some magic resources.
— The system works for everyone, and there’s no excuse for poverty or ignorance. Anyone who can’t compete and succeed under capitalism is just too lazy, indifferent, or stupid to do so. It doesn’t matter if children, the elderly, and the disabled are homeless and starving; someone should have done a better job of earning and planning.