Individual responsability, which conservatives claim they care so much about, does not go very well with Religion.
If you believe in God, if you think God has a plan, then everything you do or miss happened because it was meant to happen as part of God's plan.
If you're an atheist, then everything you do or miss, your owe it to no one else but yourself
I don't know which religion you're referring to, but as far as Christianity, you are incorrect. Judaism and Christianity don't follow fatalism. While there is a plan within these religions, there is also free will (read Genesis). You can choose to follow THE path, or any other path - it's totally up to you. Perhaps you're thinking of Hinduism, Buddhism or some other religion? :dunno: I don't know anything about those religions, so maybe that's what they teach... I don't know.
Additionally, if you're an atheist born into a wealthy family, your theory doesn't work so well. And if you're an atheist and a socialist or a communist, you will largely have the state to thank for whatever you have or don't have (or I should say,
allowed to have)- so it doesn't work there either.
As for Bob's comment, I fully agree. Life is good. Every day that I wake up and I'm above ground, I (finally) learned to appreciate it.