Most I know that are graduates who don't do drugs and aren't afraid of work are doing okay. I've known many who lost their jobs due to downsizing and picked themselves up and found another job. Most I know aren't wealthy, but they have what they need and do okay.
The ones I know, including some family members, who do drugs, hate work and didn't even graduate high school are doing terribly and they opted to have the most children. I'm sure the size of the welfare check had nothing to do with that.
If you keep doing stupid shit and never catch up, then no one will hire you for a decent job. Companies like to see at a minimum, high school graduates, any kind of work experience and a clean record. Amazing how being presentable and having a few things going for yourself will get you hired faster than walking into an interview with a resume consisting of a conviction, no diploma and no experience.
Most people can eventually get a minimum wage job to start and if they have nothing to offer, they will stay there. Seems many are stuck in that rut. It's difficult to take night classes at a local college or trade school, but those who cared enough about themselves to do it are better off now.
Yes, you can improve your situation unless you are hopefully addicted to drugs or alcohol, have zero education and little or no experience. If you don't take initiative and improve yourself or you just can't drag yourself out of bed to find a job and keep it, you're fucked until you change.
The people that do better are those who have their shit together. It doesn't mean becoming wealthy, just living comfortably. Of course, with the rising prices of everything, piss poor economy and increased taxes, those who did it right are likely to suffer. Obama and his socialist buddies will see to that. Part of the plan is to rob more and more money from us to redistribute to those who supposedly don't have the control over their lives that the rest of us do.
Some people fall and we should help. Some intend to fall from the start. Those are the scammers and I do believe there are way more of those than the left is willing to admit. The left needs to have as many people dependent on them as possible and that is their goal.