Dickens had the solution figured out nearly two centuries ago: > "Many thousands are in want of common necessaries; hundreds of thousands are "in want of commo

Dickens had the solution figured out nearly two centuries ago: > "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.”