I think people that feel they control their own destiny; do not want others to tell them what to do or not do; feel that others that fall on or are born into 'hard times' can rise above them, tend to be what we now call 'conservatives.' They do believe in helping others get on their feet demonstrated by the large number of volunteer hours and donations to charity.
Those that think that the group you were born into determines your future, without intervention, tend to be what we currently refer to as 'liberal.' Because of this core belief, the tendency is to turn to the government to be the 'intervention.' In general they don't believe that others care to the degree or depth that they do, thus others 'sharing' must be forced, through taxes.
The former is an optimistic view of not only one's personal fate, but also the 'world in general.' Routinely one hears conservatives speaking of looking for alternatives, sharing information, offering others positions when they are in need-(manu
).
Liberals on the other hand, no matter how personally successful seem to always see that dark side of things. I've never doubted their concerns about poverty, the war, racism, etc., I just think they fail to see the improvements in all areas and the desire of most of us to make an even better future.
I think we all see the problems, it just seems to me that more often those that call themselves 'conservatives' see more solutions and less roadblocks. They also laugh at themselves more. "Pain is deeper than all thought; Laughter is higher than all pain."
- Elbert Hubbart