Why did laissez faire thinkers such as smith malthus and ricardo oppose government efforts to help poor workers?

Laissez-faire thinkers like Adam Smith, Thomas Malthus, and David Ricardo opposed government efforts to help poor workers because they believed that market forces should determine economic outcomes without interference. They argued that such interventions could distort the natural equilibrium of supply and demand, potentially leading to inefficiencies and dependency. Additionally, Malthus posited that population growth would outpace resources, suggesting that any aid might exacerbate poverty in the long run. Overall, they maintained that individual initiative and competition were the best means to improve conditions for the poor.