Well, to be honest, I have a rather complex view about that. Used to be that we had “commons” where people could live off the land, hauling water, using wood for heat, gardening, etc., so even if someone didn’t have a source of income, they could still keep themselves alive or get help from neighbors.
We no longer have commons, so we have to pay for everything. Most places you can’t just use a well of your own if there is a water and sewage system, and of course, if there is no electricity in the house, they will condemn it. And so on.
So I feel there is room for welfare; we just mishandled it. We did not set it up well to begin with, and we haven’t really improved it, except for the 1996 restrictions, since then.
A good point.