At the time the economy was overheated and we had wage inflation IIRC, so the incentives to work were large, in spite of a very generous system that payed people not to work.

The important thing is the difference between working and not working.

And then you have the moral protestant thing. People who work detest paying for people who can work but won't. They have no trouble supporting people who can't work (sick etc) or people who are trying to find new jobs. In this way a basic state funded wage starts undermining the credibility of the ordinary welfare state in the mind of the voters.

While you have the right to be supported, you also have the duty to contribute and not be a burden, as much as you can.

Peak oil is not an energy crisis. It is a liquid fuel crisis.