I don't see anything wrong with a little patriotism. You know, "Ask not what your country can do for you..."
If more people would do more for their fellow man, and for their government in general, the world would be a lot nicer. I do my part. I've never collected unemployment, even when I could have. I have never accepted a stimulus check from the government, even though I was eligible. (Like the one this past summer, I purposely skipped it.) I have never used an emergency room. I have served in our military, fought in combat, befriended another nation. Even when eligible for Social Security, I will not accept it. I give to several charities every year, and purposely do not ask for any tax breaks because of my charity. I've never availed myself of any VA benefits. I give, not take. I'm more concerned with our collective future; I'm not focused solely on my own needs.
These are all little things, of course. And yet, think what our country might be if more people would make such little sacrifices. My premise is, don't take from the government just because you *can*, but take from the government only when you *must*. I'm a big proponent of self-sufficiency.
Republicans are the "Me Party" and Democrats are the "We Party". Republicans espouse working hard and getting as much as you can for yourself. Democrats espouse working hard, but looking beyond your own personal needs and seeing what people other than yourself need. We've had almost a decade of the "Me Party", and I wasn't really impressed. The last time we had a balanced budget was when the "We Party" led the nation, and I'm ready for that again. Too much "me me me" seems to have a devastating effect on our society.
We're not animals, that we can only care about ourselves. While I'm not in any way religious, Jesus' preaching to help the poor strikes a chord with me. I would rather help pull two or three people out of poverty than achieve wealth for myself. I think if there was a Jesus, he would approve of my life and the way I have lived it.
I'm a Democrat, and proud of it. I'm definitely more about we than I am about me.