I am not completely against a welfare state - I have no issue with paying SOME taxes, recognizing the interest in a government to protect us and recognizing the value in certain public works.

Actually, I think it would be a great idea if the able bodied people able to work who are currently on the dole did something to earn that welfare check like collecting trash, plowing the streets after a big snowfall, or working on fixing the roads, Oh, wait a minute - the parasitic unions would have a problem with that, wouldn't they?