This is an idiom that is used by a certain segment of (mainly American) conservative men, that means the opposite of what people think - You literally can't pull yourself up by your bootstraps. It's physically impossible. You need help. It was meant to critique anyone who thought they could 'go it alone' but has now been taken as a catch cry for such people (who don't realise that they have never gone it alone, because, that too, is an impossibility.)
An old recurring entity on this forum, and a follower of this idiom, Jordan Peterson, has checked himself into rehab. https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/health/health-problems/jordan-peterson-enters-rehab-after-wifes-cancer-diagnosis/news-story/d4514c50ce7a66a7e525cab3d04c6c78
I.e. he's getting the help he needs instead of 'doing it alone', which is great. His wife was terribly sick, he wasn't dealing with it and got some drugs from a doc to help push through. This lead to an addiction. He tried going cold turkey, but that failed. He checked himself into rehab. I feel sorry for him about his wife. I'm thankful he's getting the help he needs.
I would also hope this leads to a moment of self reflection, looking at how his ideology lead him to this point. But I doubt it. Rush Limbaugh had an.. event a decade ago, and he still peddles in the idea that drug users are truly incompetent and the worst. You know, a completely black and white situation without any nuance. https://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/28/us/28ap-rush.html
Because drugs cannot be part of the problem. It must be the weakness of the person. And if you have a weakness, you definitely shouldn't get support (especially governmental). Because you should always Pull Yourself Up by Those Bootstraps.
An old recurring entity on this forum, and a follower of this idiom, Jordan Peterson, has checked himself into rehab. https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/health/health-problems/jordan-peterson-enters-rehab-after-wifes-cancer-diagnosis/news-story/d4514c50ce7a66a7e525cab3d04c6c78
I.e. he's getting the help he needs instead of 'doing it alone', which is great. His wife was terribly sick, he wasn't dealing with it and got some drugs from a doc to help push through. This lead to an addiction. He tried going cold turkey, but that failed. He checked himself into rehab. I feel sorry for him about his wife. I'm thankful he's getting the help he needs.
I would also hope this leads to a moment of self reflection, looking at how his ideology lead him to this point. But I doubt it. Rush Limbaugh had an.. event a decade ago, and he still peddles in the idea that drug users are truly incompetent and the worst. You know, a completely black and white situation without any nuance. https://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/28/us/28ap-rush.html
Because drugs cannot be part of the problem. It must be the weakness of the person. And if you have a weakness, you definitely shouldn't get support (especially governmental). Because you should always Pull Yourself Up by Those Bootstraps.