Income Disparity and the Welfare state

Just a thought, but I would assume that given the presence of the current welfare state, those who benefit from it are the same who would live in (near) abject poverty without the welfare state. Clearly, the motivation to be sucessful and able to provide for oneself (and one’s family) is not high on the list of things to do for these people. Many of the beneficiaries of the welfare state are able to provide for themselves as well as the welfare state can, but the opportunity cost means sacrificing the ability to do absolutely nothing.

Let me ask you this: If you are content to live in abject poverty, would you rather A) provide abject poverty through your own toil and labour, or B) leech your poverty from those who are motivated by their own self-interests?

Or more succinctly: Given the option of doing nothing and doing something, provided that the end result is the same, which would you rather do: nothing, or something?