I'm from South Africa and we're a welfare state. Regardless of race, colour or creed a democratic socialist government it doesn't seem to help poor people bridge the gap into a middle class that contributes, it only serves to keep people poor and over-reliant on government and thus keeping themselves in power as the poor votes for the hands that feed them

Its all about keeping themselves in power rather than creating a thriving society and while the government is to blame to some extent there comes a point where people need to take personal responsiblity and can't always be sitting with their arms folded saying look at me im helpless.