Actually, the entire exercise is part of a Deep Metaphor. Only a Democrat would have the urge to undertake it, to think in terms of interrelated systems and institutional remedies. That's just not in a Republican's, or I should say Conservative's, lexicon.
It's the difference, as you say, between personal responsibility and societal responsibility.
Yes, everything indeed begins as a deep metaphor and then can be translated in to action, most times there is no control over these thoughts as they are 'subconscious.'
The difference b/w these parties is more then just their P.O.V. it comes down to HOW these views originate as deep metaphors deep in the brain stem.
This difference you come to mention, reaps importance when we talk about the non by-partisanship we witness for this countries governing body
Cheers, thanks for dropping by :)