This is a tricky one, and quite apropos to some current situations in Australia with indigenous communities and single mothers. Does welfare create welfare dependency? Well yeah, if it's just a lazy hand-out with no other solutions in place, it probably does.

Money's not a long term solution for people on welfare IMO - building skills, self-esteem, providing opportunities is far better because it enables them to take control of their lives. Problem is it's easier, and cheaper, to just throw money at them and tell them to get off their ass and find a job. Australia's indigenous communities are reaping the "benefit" of a lazy and uncaring welfare system now, IMO.

When we lived in the UK we noticed the relative lack of social welfare and the increased number of charities in comparison to Australia. My wife actually worked as the research director of a charity for the families and children of prisoners while we were there. Try getting money out of the public when your charity has the word "Prisoner" in it's title! I guess my feelings about charities are that there are plenty of worthy causes out there, and a limited amount of money. So some of the less "sympathy-generating" causes get lost in the crowd. Govt. needs to provide safety nets for groups in the community who fall through the cracks - if it didn't, it would be failing in its duty as a government (IMO ).

James.