My experiences left me decidedly right. To start with, dad dumped us...cuz he could. As large a sphincter as he was..I doubt he's have let us starve and die. Law of unintended consequences.
dasboot, your experience was almost identical to mine - even down to the five siblings!! As a result of my similar experience, I decided I would never, EVER let the government “take care” of me! My husband and I had our financial difficulties throughout the years, but we never asked for help - instead worked harder and found our own solutions. We never whined or blamed anybody else. We learned from our mistakes and took care of ourselves. We are still not rich - but happy and contented and, most of all, optimistic. I am a much happier “righty” than the whining, complaining lefties that I know!