Story first and then question for the reader at the bottom...

When I was younger my mom and dad split. My mom had to go on welfare because, at that time, my dad was the main earner.

She worked her rear end off to get away from the welfare system by bettering her situation. She didn't want to be on the dole of the government.

I then grew up myself and saw folks on welfare. People I knew through people I knew. People I did interact with enough to know their situation.

Some of these folks had actual disabilities. I also saw folks that were very able-bodied. Folks would go through the motions of applying for jobs just to satisfy the welfare department's requirement on looking for work and then not take the jobs.

What do you all think? Should welfare be a hand-up in hard times or a way of life? And how does someone maintain a sense of self-respect while living off of other people's taxes?