Well, if we don't change the way we run government, our financial system will collapse under the weight of its debt, and we'll be starting over from scratch with no welfare at all, like we did for over 150 yrs.

In 2000, our national debt was about $5.7 trillion, and the cost of servicing the interest on that debt was about $361 billion that year.  Today, and about $19.9 Trillion of debt (349% of the 2000 debt), but the cost of servicing it is about $466 billion, only 29% more.  How is that possible?  The average rate on the debt in 2000 was 6.34%, and it's at an artificially low rate of 2.34% now, which has created bubbles in bonds, stocks, and housing.  The Fed says it wants to "normalize" rates, and if that means allowing them to go back to 2000 rates (which seemed low at the time), it means adding $1.2 Trillion per year to the deficits, resulting in a "hockey stick" upward spiral that is unsustainable.

The only way to avoid collapse is balanced budgets and much faster growth: 4%+.