Our safety net was already full of holes. They’re only getting bigger

The article highlights a significant decline in the effectiveness of safety net programs over the past few decades, as the cost of essentials like housing and healthcare has skyrocketed while wages stagnated. This disparity means that even a working-class wage can't cover basic needs, leaving many people to struggle or rely more heavily on inadequate government assistance. The situation is dire because these safety nets were never robust, and now, with rising costs, they're failing to provide the support they were meant to. This trend underscores the urgent need for economic reforms to address these growing inequalities.