We didn't let it become anything. The choice people will make most of the time is pretty obvious:
A. No responsibility, if you can't support yourself, "the government" will give you money for food and housing and utilities.
B. Personal responsibility, take pride in yourself and your accomplishments, earn your own way through life.
Which one do you think is more appealing to the unwashed masses? People take the path of least resistance, and that path is government reliance and subservience.