What has, and when did, it happen?

I am just so disappointed in this country at this moment in history because,I dont know when it happened but we have become a nation of people who expect a handout, no one wants to earn their way thru life and work hard for the things they want, they just want whatever handout the government will give them. So someone please tell me when did it happen? {you are never quaranteed anything in life except oppourtunity.}