Reply #38: I worry that he is constructing a rigid narrative

[TayTay]

that he will then expect others to follow. Many Republicans, especially those in the most conservative wing of the party. believe that adversity is something that one can only overcome with the aide of religion or self-will. Many of these folks go on TV and preach the gospel of self-help; that government can't help individuals in need, only faith and self-reliance can do so.

(Full disclosure: I have huge issues with "the Secret" style beliefs that state that if an individual only believes hard enough in good luck and positive thinking that magical things will happen to them for the good. There are many people who are good people, have faith, work hard and still have to endure the unendurable. There are Iraq War vets who have psychic scarring and no amount of "believe you will get better" stuff is going to make them better. They need help, programs that cost money to administer and, in many instances, help from their government.)

Compassion is not found in expecting others to be mirror images of ourselves. What works for one person might not work for another. This not a moral or social failure, it is an acknowlegment of the vastness of human experience.

The self-help wing of the Repub Party believes that governmetn should not be in the business of helping people. I greatly fear that Scott Brown is constructing a narrative for himself so that he can justify not helping people. If he lived through awfulness in his past and was able to eventually thrive, then others should do the same. If thye can't, then they are morally wrong and don't deserve help. This is wrong.