The Romans made the mistake two millennia ago of providing free corn to the urban rabble. Soon they had the eternal mob, simmering in the slums, living pointlessly, breeding extravagantly, demanding entertainment and threatening to explode if not pandered to. As with Rome, so with America. Instead of bread and circuses, we provide welfare and television, but the principle is the same. The cruelty of television surpasses that of the gladiatorial games.
Welfare works badly.
Charity prolonged becomes charity expected. Demands met encourage further demands. People who contribute little or nothing to society grow accustomed to contributing nothing, and regard leisure as their due. Knowing nothing, they do nothing. And so finally they become superfluous, as society learns to live without them.