Be careful with the dissonance between your social circle and "everyone".
(In this case for instance - living in the midwest puts me into contact with a very large number of people who's beliefs align nearly perfectly with the television narrative).
(In this case for instance - living in the midwest puts me into contact with a very large number of people who's beliefs align nearly perfectly with the television narrative).
One thing you have to remember is that in general, Americans are culturally one of the most generous nations in the world. Broadly speaking, that includes foreign aid and domestic welfare as well as voluntary charity. But at that same time, the US is an industrious nation that prizes hard work. It's a fine line to walk and people fall through the cracks in the system.
Nevertheless, it's extremely uncharitable IMO to suggest that the poor are "hated" in America.
Broadly speaking, no, foreign aid given by the US is barely top 30 per capita.
[0] http://www.prb.org/Publications/Articles/2002/AmericanAttitu...
US ranks #21 in Foreign aid and is 1/5 Sweden.
http://www.statisticbrain.com/countries-that-give-the-most-i...
Welfare # GDP US: 14.8 Sweden: 28.9
Giving we are #1 in monitary donations but it's only 1.85% of GDP in the US. http://www.forbes.com/2008/12/24/america-philanthropy-income... "Based on volunteerism alone, the Netherlands comes first, followed by Sweden and then the U.S."