Safety nets used to be there as a temporary measure when someone found themselves in a difficult situation without other means of support. Now, it seems to be used to quell possible civil unrest from government policies causing difficult financial situations en masse. Therefore any possible solutions to these policies are being halted by the government itself in order to continue with the failed policies which are benefitting the few at the cost of the many. Until these policies are changed, our economy with continue to languish.
Entitlements are forever. Once established, they will only expand over time.
Safety nets are the business of churches and charitable organizations. The U.S. government has a different function, and when it presumes to take over the work that churches/charities are meant to do ... we see the moral, financial, and entitlement-mentality malaise that we have now.