I know there are individuals who hate the world and want everybody else to be suffer, or to be dumb and gullible because then they're easier to con. But IMO the main driver is the basic conservative attitude that everybody should stand on their own two feet - either because in their minds it makes the nation stronger, or they just resent having to pay for anybody else's anything - even things that benefit other conservatives. Individually motivated group behavior often looks like a conspiracy but it's not. Most people don't eat meat to spite vegans, or floss to put dentists out of business. Etc.