Those on welfare don't need sympathy. They need to be backed, encouraged, and supported to plan their future and see a path off welfare dependency. We are currently taking backward steps, and that's before COVID. Sympathy and kindness do not put food on the table or pay your bills. We need to understand dependency. We need to understand decades of despair and marginalisation that in too many people's lives turns to violence, welfare dependency, and a pretty crappy life. But equally we have to be careful that that understanding doesn't turn into an excuse and we lose our belief in people and their ability and their sense of self-responsibility.