"Republicans believe in a stronger sense of *you can do it yourself*.
What Republicans? The ones who are in the higher tax bracket making 75K and up?
I understand the comment from your point of view:
>"Affluent Democrats may have altruistic desires, but the recipents ...are convinced, ...of their psuedo-victimization, and therefore needs and wants are their first priority."
I know what you are getting at, but being more liberal in my persuasion; I only see the capitalistic greed of the upper class of banks, mortgage companies, insurers, car and energy companies who have raped and pillaged the middle and lower classes and who STILL are getting bailed out with bonuses, and being completely unapologetic about it.
Indeed the the "poorest" of democrats are the ones who who WERE victimized the most.