One in every five 25-to-54-year-old working men are awol from the workforce, according to New York Times columnist David Brooks.

These are men in their prime years who should be working hard to support their families and build a future. Instead, many collect government support for their livelihoods.

What is wrong with men today? As Brooks points out, in 1954, 96 percent of 25-to-54-year-old men worked—that is almost a fully engaged workforce. But now more American men avoid work than any other major Western nation. Brooks cites figures from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, which show that the United States has a smaller share of prime-age men in the workforce than any other G-7 nation.

Ten years ago, 5 million Americans collected federal disability benefits. Now 8.2 million do. America’s population has grown 9 percent over the past decade. Why then has the number of prime-age working males on disability soared 65 percent during that time?

This is a pretty condemning figure.

Back when our grandparents were in their prime, if a man got hurt in his work, he found another job to support his family because there was a stigma attached to asking other people to support you.

Today, many young men take pleasure in gaming the system. A few months ago I heard one young man telling another how easy it was to get on food stamps. Why not—it’s free money, right?

No. It’s not free. Every other American that actually gets out of bed to go to work in the morning, while he lounges around, is paying for his “free” food.

As Brooks points out, there may be legitimate reasons to be on disability or other welfare programs. But regardless of the reason, the fact that so many American men are not out working is a sign that there is something terribly wrong with the economy and American society as a whole.

The eventual reality, says Brooks, is that “these men will find it hard to attract spouses. Many will pick up habits that have a corrosive cultural influence on those around them. The country will not benefit from their potential abilities.”

Stated another way. The end result is a nationwide culture becoming more like inner-city Detroit, Washington, d.c., Cleveland, and so on.

A civilization cannot survive for long when a fifth of prime-age males are not getting up and going to work.