According to Wikipedia:
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Welfare is financial assistance paid by taxpayers to people who are unable to support themselves,
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This is not exactly correct.  The word <i>unable</i> should be <i>unable or unwilling</i> since it is impossible to determine on a global scale the reason why an individual is in need of financial assistance.
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The term which welfare replaced is charity. 
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Charity should <b>not</b> be the concern of government.  Charity is a human activity in response to human needs demonstrating the highest of human feelings.  
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Government is not human, has no feelings and hence cannot implement charity judiciously.  When government engages in charity, the recipients see the charity as entitlement.  When an individual responds to another individual with charity the recipient is humbled, thankful and inspired.  Charity involves giving where the giver and the receiver are benefited.  Welfare involves taking as well as giving where funds given to the recipient are taken by force of law from the <i>giver</i>.