GOP cannot allow government (especially the federal government) to be seen as a positive force in people's lives
If the government can help address problems, then maybe GOP membership will start wanting that
Instead they preach nihilism bonded to "other"ism : you cannot have anything because the "other" might get something too; basically the GOP has trained its people to reject programs that might help themselves, because they know the "other" might get the same help, and they cannot stomach that