If you are proud of actual accomplishments does that lead to a deficit of pride? Do we require chauvinistic myths to be in good mental health? There is a kind of parallel to Calvinism in which our good works can never be enough to win us a place in heaven. There are experiments that show optimistic people are healthier but also way more optimistic about outcomes that is warrented. Pessimists get closer to the truth but are more miserable. Could humans need a mythology which allows them unearned pride? The corollary is the great question; can we handle the truth? Totalitarian regimes seek to control every aspect of culture because they are sure only a unified people can do big things. Could this be part of the enduring appeal of conservatism? Having to actually accomplish this to have a sense of pride is much harder and success can be stymied despite the best, most determined work by the individual. Sometimes the good one does is not even apparent during ones lifetime. Existentialism is really hard and that is why a mythology based sense of self may be so comforting. In the 1960's people understood this and tried to create a new American paradigm, a progressive mythology. Culture does not take grafts well but the legacy of this attempt accounts for much of our best instincts today. We must realize it is difficult to get people to give up something in exchange for nothing. A new American mythology needs to return to our cultural front burner. The cheap thrills of jingoistic patriotism are a powerful enemy but without fighting we will only watch things get worse.