Quote from Scataphagos:
Our government likes at least 50% of its people dependent and stupid... easier to control them.
That way, the stupid and ne'er do wells (parasite class) will keep voting for "more government", and the producers will effectively have no vote. Clever, don't you think?
If 50% of the people were dependent on the government, this would be a third world country with high crime rates. Who would pay to take care of all of the poor, unless the working people want to pay 80% of their income for taxes?