You seem to think that welfare only feeds people who are unwilling to work. On the contrary, welfare (and food stamps, and other programs) provide food for people who work full time but still cannot support themselves. I know a woman who worked full time at minimum wage -- the government payed some money so she could support her very aged grandmother and her 3 year old child. She also got loans (not even grants, loans) so she could go to school so she could work her way up. Without welfare and other programs, the poor do not have the opportunity to work themselves into a better position! A 'bum' without a street address or clean clothes cannot just walk into a place and get a good job (especially one that could support him without any social programs) when he decides to stop being lazy. Social programs often require a person go back to work or train for work, and so it should be. I think that saying providing for these people to have opportunities to survive and better themselves is 'stealing' is ludicrous -- rather, it's stealing that rich employers won't hire full time (to prevent paying for benefits), that the minimum wage isn't a living wage, etc. I'm not bashing the rich, I'm just saying that 'rich' or even middle class people (myself and my family definitely included) should help via taxes people who are at the bottom if simple charity is not providing enough -- and simple charity is certainly not providing enough.