Welfare as we currently know it is more expensive than a simple and market friendly at-will unemployment scheme that conforms to our social contract (constitution, and specifically the 9A in regards to at-will employment in states that have at-will employment).
Paying less efficient labor market participants to be couch potatoes helps the employment sector of the labor market in that the more efficient labor market participants will be actively seeking employment.
No one has any problems with some of the largest agribusinesses in the world asking for a public handout. Why do those same people balk at paying fellow human beings to pursue art, education, or happiness; if they can benefit from better labor market conditions if they choose to provide labor input to the economy?
Is it more holy and moral to let people stay in third world economic conditions in our first world economy?

