But it's precisely the welfare state that brought my former country to the brink, when a massive influx of refugees put so much strain on public services, that lifelong citizens were having to wait months for critical care and stirring up (understandable) angry, nationalist sentiment. And there are many such examples across Europe at different times.

The other thing the safety net doesn't seem to provide is happiness, much to the chagrin of American democratic socialists. Overtime, unchecked depression results in the crumbling of society as well.