I think it's a variation on the American Dream. "Only in America" can you start with nothing and, with hard work and personal dedication, accomplish your goals and live a better life than your parents. The individualism of that premise is that you have to do the work and if you get help from anybody that's not fair to people who had to do it on their own.

That's why the stereotypes of the welfare queen and the lazy union worker are so pervasive in American society. The idea of such people is especially outrageous to someone who never needed social help, or someone who feels he's never benefited from social help.