How about the thoughts of the great Rep. Paul Ryan:

“Let’s take those principles of welfare reform that were extremely successful in getting people out of lives of dependency and back on their feet,”

“This is a path that we believe reignites and renews the American idea"

“It reclaims the opportunity society with a safety net, which we do believe must exist for people who cannot help themselves, for people who are down on their luck, so they can get back on their feet.”

“But we don’t want to turn the safety net into a hammock that lulls able-bodied people to lives of dependency and complacency, that drains them of their will and their incentive to make the most of their lives.”

(His plan would turn the funding for federal programs like food stamps and housing assistance into block grants… States would then set work requirements and time limits for the benefits.)