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Work pays! But so does sitting home collecting a check (or housing, food stamps, fuel assistance, child care, medical treatment, etc., etc.,) from those who do, and so the practice will continue. The worst irony of all is hearing the same people who have complained about supporting those on welfare gloat over how long they themselves have received unemployment compensation.

Irony indeed. Have you also noticed how the true looters among us are also full of tips and pointers on how they "did it"? In other words, here's the lies I told and the things I did to get established on the gravy train. Such tales are usually told as instructional, as though to say, "What the hell are you doing working when you could be like me?"

[.30Carbine]

It is difficult to find the wisest and most loving way to respond to friends and relatives who take the position you have described. Compassion does not always mean agreement. There are times when the most compassionate thing to do for a person we love is bonk them on the head...though I've never done that literally.