Jonathan Swift's Classic Satire, "A Modest Proposal," Just Became Reality

[TomCADem]

Jonathan Swift's masterful satire, "A Modest Proposal," mockingly proposed to solve the devastating poverty in Ireland by selling poor children as food for wealthy families. Swift goes on to explain how this would solve all of Ireland's problems from domestic abuse to poverty. Swift explained his proposal in depth, in many ways treating these children as nothing more than a new type of livestock. Swift proposed:

The children, at a year old, be offered in the sale to the persons of quality and fortune through the kingdom; always advising the mother to let them suck plentifully in the last month, so as to render them plump and fat for a good table. A child will make two dishes at an entertainment for friends; and when the family dines alone, the fore or hind quarter will make a reasonable dish, and seasoned with a little pepper or salt will be very good boiled on the fourth day, especially in winter.

Many reacted in outrage at Swift's essay back in 1729. Yet, here we are in 2017, with the Senate passing a massive tax cut to benefit corporations and the rich, which will add $1 trillion to deficit, and also cut benefits and take away healthcare from millions of middle and working class families.

[AmericanActivist]

1. Kick this modest proposal nm

[WinkyDink]

2. I taught this work, back in the day. Love the "fricassee" part.