You might have taken the wrong lesson away from "Christmas Carol."
When the men came to Scrooge's office for a donation, his response was that the institutions of the time were doing just fine handling the poor, thank you. Nowadays, this is often re-stated as "I pay my taxes. Let the government take care of it."
It might be interesting to speculate on what Scrooge would have learned or failed to learn by the end of the story if these men had just been legally able to take the money from him and buy Bob Cratchit a goose and Tiny Tim an operation. A happy ending for the Cratchits, to be sure.
Scrooge? The Forgotten Man.
I have no real problem with government safety nets, but let's not dress it up as a major moral virtue on the part of the State. Forced charity is a contradiction in terms. Is it really "generosity" when a politician spends other people's money? Ironically, often these politicians aren't all that generous personally.
"Are there no prisons?" asked Scrooge.
"Plenty of prisons," said the gentleman, laying down the pen again.
"And the Union workhouses?" demanded Scrooge. "Are they still in operation?"
"They are. Still," returned the gentleman, "I wish I could say they were not."
"The Treadmill and the Poor Law are in full vigour, then?" said Scrooge.
"Both very busy, sir."
"Oh! I was afraid, from what you said at first, that something had occurred to stop them in their useful course," said Scrooge. "I'm very glad to hear it."
"Under the impression that they scarcely furnish Christian cheer of mind or body to the multitude," returned the gentleman, "a few of us are endeavouring to raise a fund to buy the Poor some meat and drink and means of warmth. We choose this time, because it is a time, of all others, when Want is keenly felt, and Abundance rejoices. What shall I put you down for?"
"Nothing!" Scrooge replied.
"You wish to be anonymous?"
"I wish to be left alone," said Scrooge. "Since you ask me what I wish, gentlemen, that is my answer. I don't make merry myself at Christmas and I can't afford to make idle people merry.
I help to support the establishments I have mentioned -- they cost enough; and those who are badly off must go there."