Evidently it works just fine since the bottom 60% of the population runs a surplus against the government since at least 2012[1].

[1] https://taxfoundation.org/60-percent-households-now-receive-...

maintenance is one thing. We have an empire, welfare state, huge entitlements and red ink of pension obligations as far as the eye can see. As soon as people fail, they look to the government to bail them out.