American colonists and pioneers were well-known for the can-do attitude. They could get anything done with the tools at hand. The result may not have been pretty but it worked. Lately, however, the "can-do" attitude of most Americans has changed, with most Americans relying on other people to help them out of difficult situations.

Examples:

Katrina victims said:
- I hope someone gets me to dry land.
- I hope someone gets me some water.
...