No one should feel guilty that they live in an advanced ( quite often Western ) society that can afford to support and assist individuals who need assistance . Some gratitude is never a bad thing , but that gratitude should be directed to the many generations who have worked to produce the way of life and values we have today .Only people who feel entitled to that assistance are they ones who should feel guilty .
For now our societies can continue to operate this way . In the future with an aging population and increasing welfare base things might be different . But I hope not .