Ben, see above Pasuk, poskim, and logic.
Live = hishtadlus, because bederech hateva, the king/your boss/your in laws/ anyone seem to be able to help.
Dead = what are they going to do for you? They can daven for you, which is exactly wbat chazal ssked of them, but anything else would be saying that they have actual, independent power, as if Hashem gave power over to them(shituf deoraysoh)