So Was Ebenezer Scrooge Really That Bad?

Poor ole Ebenezer Scrooge.  His name is synonymous with being a cheapskate during the holidays.  As we are all aware, Scrooge had his flaws that included contempt for the poor, being rude to his only employee, and coining Bah Humbug.     But, was Scrooge at least a good business man?   You bet! Take the following into account: He was passionate about his work – This man was willing to work day and night doing what he loved; a money lender….or a banker….um, or a solicitor.….mmm, I’m not sure what he was, but he loved it. Worked his way up - Scrooge apprenticed as a low-level clerk to Mr. Fezziwig. From this humble beginning, Scrooge partnered with Marley and eventually made a fortune.  By the way, his business had to go through the Napoleonic Wars, the Industrial Revolution, and make it through a few economic depressions. He has been played by the best - Partcik Stewart, George C. Scott, Jim Carrey, Bill Murray, and of course, Donald and Daffy Duck. Kept his expenses low – “Scrooge prefers to hoard his money, denying himself proper conveniences and living a lifestyle of poverty.” writes Charles Dickens.  So he saved a little money on heat by not buying coal.  Big deal.  These days he would be considered an environmentalist.  Had working capital – After keeping his expenses low, Scrooge hoarded his money.  And by hoarded, he probably had enough working capital set aside that when times got tough in London in the 1800’s, he would survive.  He was a good business partner – He had to be at least a decent business partner, or Marley his deceased business partner, would not come back to warn him of his ways and how they could lead to roaming the earth for eternity.  A lot of the partnerships I have seen wouldn’t even warn each other of walking around with toilet paper on their shoe. His name was Ebenezer! - You know who else is named Ebenezer?  Nope.  Me neither.  That alone makes him remarkable.    So does being a good business man make Scrooge a good person?  No.  But you know how the story ends.  He was Bill Gates, before Bill Gates.   Merry Christmas!