I blame the benefit system, 

I was an unmarried mother in Margret Thatchers era,

social security payments in those days were just enough to ensure you didn't starve, if you wanted the nicer things in life you had to get off your butt and work for them.

Nowadays they get enough to pay for every member of the family to have a mobile, designer clothes and holidays abroad!

There is no incentive to better themselves.