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You guys are right, that was a very broad overgeneralization of conservatives. I mention "conservatives" as a stereotype because that is the term used in the question. I'm trying to generalize about the sort of Rush Limbaugh-esque conservatives, and even then, obviously not every dittohead believes the exact same things. Sorry about that, I should have mentioned that in my post.
I also agree that welfare in this country is more accurately depicted if you include agricultural subsidies and corporate welfare. However, I don't think you hear too much from conservative politicians about decreasing either (once again, an overgeneralization, and there certainly are exceptions).
However, statements like "I think those who get welfare should work for it" seems to miss the point of welfare entirely. There AREN'T enough jobs, and certainly not enough jobs providing living wages, for everyone. Trust me: pretty much everyone wants to work and be paid enough so that they need no welfare. Things just don't work out that way in the U.S.
Remember when I said that conservatives tend to believe receiving welfare means that you are somehow an immoral or bad person? 98MustGT said that "I think personal welfare (not corporate welfare) is very destructive to the individual." This is what I am talking about. Despite the fact that people on welfare can eat and have a place to live thanks to government social safety nets, the argument cast against welfare is a moral one regarding the personal integrity of those receiving welfare.
As for the Puritan thing, I suggest reading the works of famed sociologist Max Weber, who coined the phrase "protestant work ethic" to describe the belief that decent people work hard, and if you are a good person working hard you will be succesful - and that if you aren't succesful, you can't be a good person nor working hard.
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