Guess what? Whether you are doing better or worse, if you really take stock, I bet you will find that it is because of you. That's right. No government hand-out changed your life. No local program was the answer to all of your troubles or prayers. There wasn't some kind stranger who swooped in and miraculously made your life better in one grand gesture. Those things don't really happen to 99% of us. Even if a stranger paid off your holiday layaway, that doesn't drastically change your life. A lot of the toys and gifts given at Christmas are already old and forgotten. That's just how it is these days.
You are the reason that you are doing better or worse than you were a year ago. If you are doing better, that's awesome, and you should celebrate and keep moving forward. If you are doing worse, you should quit sabotaging yourself and waiting for some dysfunctional government (on both sides!) to swoop in and save you. They can't agree on when to spend taxpayer money. They surely aren't going to help the average person out of trouble.
The sooner we all take PERSONAL accountability for our actions, and our futures, the better off we will all be. Quit waiting for the person on the white horse to come to your rescue. They aren't coming. Take charge, take responsibility, and rescue yourself. That way, in a year when you look back, you will KNOW why you've gotten better in areas of your life.