A society in which it’s everyone for themselves, that refuses to care for one another, is no society at all. Then everyone acts shocked and horrified at someone who understandably snaps, like modern western culture doesn’t run entirely on schadenfreude.
That was the crux of the idea of a social contract, which is long dead in the US. Now people line up to revel in the suffering of their fellow citizens with “well you were stupid to do xyz in life, so you deserve your suffering haha.”
I agree, but I’m not sure that’s an unpopular opinion. Most people who act like they don’t owe anyone anything seem to forget all the help they’ve received. Craig T. Nelson said it best: “I’ve been on food stamps and welfare. Anybody help me out? No.”
> Most people who act like they don’t owe anyone anything seem to forget all the help they’ve received
It’s not necessarily applicable. In the same way if I help someone that doesn’t mean they owe me, taking help doesn’t necessarily mean you owe someone else.