Millions of Americans vehemently opposed to Welfare begin to realize that they’re actually quite fond of it.

With the elimination of Bush-era tax cuts and long-term unemployment benefits only weeks away, millions of Americans who have held firm in their disgust with “greedy, lazy Americans” who receive welfare benefits are feeling abashed after a dawning realization that they have been enjoying, and somewhat dependant, on the same thing.

“I’m not sure what I’m going to do now,” says Matthew Fenton, a single parent from Lansing, Michigan. Like millions of other Americans, Fenton has been enjoying 3-5 percent income tax reductions, non-existent estate tax, lower marriage penalties, and a doubled $1000 dollar per-child credit for the last ten years.

“It’s haunting to wake up one morning and suddenly realize I’ve been receiving the same thing. It’s absolutely humiliating,” he continued. “I’ve complained about low-income people receiving assistance for years. Now, to wake up and realize I’ve been receiving assistance too, well, it’s almost too much to take.”

To be fair, Fenton isn’t the only one. Millions of moderately well-off Americans will feel the effects of these tax cuts, if extensions are not agreed upon, as well. Ironically, high-income earners over the course of the ten year tax cuts have actually saved significantly more than a single mom receiving welfare checks for that same time period. In some cases, they’ve saved more than the amount of ten years of welfare checks in a single year.

Garrett Wickre, a sales director out of Veblen, South Dakota taking home over $100,000 a year, had similar feelings.

“For years I’ve thought that ‘Hey, if you can’t afford what you need, get another job!’ I didn’t realize my $30,000 in tax cuts was actually more than they could make in almost two years of full-time work. It’s a sickening feeling, to be sure.”

Fortunately, all may not be lost. Over the next few weeks Congress will attempt to push through legislation extending the tax cuts for up to three additional years.  If this measure is successful, middle and upper-class Americans will continue to enjoy this government assistance for the foreseeable future.

But please remember, it’s NOT welfare. It’s just government assistance in these tough economic times.