“At this desperate time with the economy, Mr Scrooge, … it is more than usually desirable that we should make some slight provision for the Poor and destitute, who suffer greatly at the present time. Many thousands are in want of common necessaries; hundreds of thousands are in want of common comforts, sir. Some would send them back out into the world despite the risk.”

“Can we not reopen things, let the natural process of selection take its course?”

“We could, sir. But what choice would that give the poor? Many might be forced by their employers to return in such circumstance; and many would perhaps die.”

“Better they die, then the economy” said Scrooge, “they had better do it, for the common good, it would decrease the surplus population of those who offer the smallest contribution to society..”