Has anything changed, fundamentally? No!
There were fewer scroungers back then. But productivity was much lower too.
Today there are far more scroungers, but the economy is holding up because it is so much bigger now. The relative difference is probably close to zero.
It doesn't matter who the scroungers are: migrants, indigenous, white, black, fat, thing etc etc. What matters is no one is doing anything about TAXATION - root cause of unemployment, bankruptcy, poverty and ultimately war.
But why not? Because all people, you and I too, have snouts buried deep in the trough of rent seeking.
I am your worst nightmare, owning lots of real estate. I do it because I know it is the only way to secure the future of my household in a world of other rent seekers.
Is this another iteration of the @grok prisoners dilemma?
I do not think so. Because taxation can be resolved easily in technical terms. Where everyone is always the winner.
.jpg)