"If you do not do anything for me, why should I give you money?"
"At this festive season of the year, Mr. Scrooge," said the gentleman, taking up a pen, âoeit 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."
"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.
I will support economic fairness rather than handouts
Economic fairness may refer to: Equal opportunity, Economic equity, or Economic justice. In all three of these, it most likely requires taxing those that prevent them, and giving handouts to where it's needed.
But regardless, you'll quickly hit a road block. Because you have affinity to "If you do not do anything for me, why should I give you money", it will be used by any rich person that hoards as much money as possible, including those that caused inflation at the grocery store level. With the added bonus of them not even wanting to pay those who gave them stuff (e.g. Donald Trump stiffing worker's wages.)
As such, you should answer your own question before applying it as a purity test for just one side.
ENLIGHTENED CENTRISM