Do you agree withan elected government official saying not to feed the poor?

After listening to the original recording instead of the news report about the speech, I think I only disagree with a couple of phrases he said. It is true that when you reward behavior, you will get more of it - so paying people money to be irresponsible will lead to greater irresponsibility. I certainly agree with his point that people who receive benefits owe something. If you give people everything they need without requiring anything from them many will choose not to work. It should be difficult and unpleasant to be unproductive in society as an adult. I think I heard in one country where they tried guaranteeing every citizen what they defined as basic needs (above poverty level food, clothing, shelter, medical care) that eventually 20% (or was it 40%?) of the able workforce simply chose not to work. They became satisfied with being taken care of - it requires a lot less time/effort/energy/thought than being responsible for yourself and your family - and it is unhealthy for people and society to have that attitude (and it is financially unsustainable). So, while I disagree with the way he said some things I think he is essentially right on most points.

I think that job belongs to the Church. God blesses His People when they give to the poor. The gov't robs people of those blessings by stealing from them to take over doing what God wants us to do voluntarily. Worse, gov't is bad at it, and takes much more for itself than churches do for the same job. Gov't is not equipped to determine that a welfare cheat is cheating the taxpayers. Churches are hands-on, and know the people they are helping. Huge difference.

Of course not but I know some politician actually advocated that! I do think it is shocking that some of us can actually vote such people into office. The attitude is "we have ours, get your own and leave us alone" or more succinctly, "we have ours, screw you!" :(

It would depend on the context. If you have homeless people in your town, should the town council have the duty to make sure each of them has three squares and a place to live? If so, why is anyone working when they have the same right to the same services?