"Work hard!!!!"

I'm reading an article in which the journalist has talked to Sarah Palin-fans about in what way they see an Obama administration in the White House as a disaster for the US. Most of the answers are about the prospect of not being able to "work hard" in Obama's socialist empire. "I'm worried that we will become a socialist country in which people who want to work hard and be innovative will be punished....", "I work hard for my my money. Nobody has the right to take them away from me." "America is a good country because you can reach your goals. If you work hard you have the possibility to be successful." "We want to work hard and be successful."

"Hard work" is seemingly linked with prosperity and success in these statements, but "hard work" seems to be about something else as well. It is almost as if people think that some new tax requirements will take away what is most important in people: the drive to create a successful life. But there is something I don't quite understand here. If you want to work hard, why do you see economic incentives as central to that? On the one hand, there is this "work morale" spirit, on the other, the idea about "economic incentives" presupposes that we would do nothing if we are not payed an insanely large amount of money for it (or at least have the prospect of earning an insane amount of money). If my paycheck barely covers my daily costs, then I might consider changing job. But in these quotes, "working hard" and "being successful" have nothing to do with anything concrete, it seems to me. It's "principles". "You shouldn't be punished for working hard!" - But it is only from a completely fetishized perspective on money that taxes which make possible health care for more people etc., etc. will appear to be "a punishment".

I want to ask the irreverent question: Why do you want to work so hard?