A quote from the Missouri State Constitution says: "all constitutional government is intended to promote the general welfare of the people; that all persons have a natural right to life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness...all persons are created equal and are entitled to equal rights and opportunity under the law; that to give security to these things is the principal office of government, and that when government does not confer this security, it fails in its chief design." In other words, when the government welfare system does not help you, it fails at its primary purpose, to ensure people are treated equally and given the opportunities to have lives worth living. Government welfare programs exist for the purpose of serving those in need (Missouri Secretary of State).

http://www.sos.mo.gov/pubs/constitution.asp