“The Politics Of ‘A Christmas Carol’”
A Christmas Carol is a conservative story. Does Scrooge complain about taxes? Not much, but he sure complains bitterly about private sector charity. As far as Ebeneezer is concerned the government-run work houses are sufficient to take care of the poor. And like many Leftists, Scrooge doesn’t believe in guilt. His taxes funding the government are a Get Out Of Guilt-Jail Free card. . .
Scrooge’s transformation is into an individual who, like a true conservative, comes to truly care about the poor, and with that true compassion comes the revelation that the government does more harm than good. The new Scrooge doesn’t run down the street demanding higher tax rates and that the goverment do more.
It may be gauche to read your politics into such a Christmas classic but I think the point is a good one. Plus, a testament to great literature that one can have a different takes on its meaning.
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