Is the argument that poor people will respond to the incentive of being paid to not work they won't work?
No, the argument is that paying the working poor a living wage is bad for them. And if they get food stamps to eke out a living, that's bad too, so cut out food stamps and the safety net. This will encourage them to get off their butts and get a real job. Of course if unemployment, say under GOP president like Bush reaches 10% plus due to financial mismanagement, well its their fault anyway. The way to fix it all is more big tax cuts to the rich and big business. Again, the wisdom of the ages from Arthur Laffer, Grover Norquist, Sam Brownback, Bobby Jindal et al.
Its so obvious once you lay it all out.