Baby Eating-Economic Savior of the Irish Realm
David Shorrosh
Baby Eating – Economic Savior of the Irish Realm
When the Great Depression occurred in 1929, there were numerous American bank failures, approximating nine thousand by the depression 's end.1 Recently, the United States has just recovered from a period of economic contraction, due largely to the bursting of the housing bubble. 168 banks closed during this recession, but what prevented it from reaching the Great Depression 's severity was a large government bailout of banks.2 This quick action saved the economy from a plummet that would have devastated it for years. In the 18th century, Ireland faced a similar economic shock. England imposed trade restrictions that forced many people to lose their jobs and homes. The Cattle Acts outlawed the importation of livestock, and the Navigation Acts “prohibited the exportation of goods to any English colony unless they were loaded in English ships (carrying English crews) at English ports.”3 Beggars flooded the streets, needing funds to support their most basic of needs. Numerous ideas were proposed to turn this economic contraction around, but to no avail. However, one writer, Jonathan Swift, developed a creative approach that, had it been implemented, may have been Ireland 's economic savior. In his work, "A Modest Proposal," Swift presents the idea of eating the children of impoverished families in order to boost the economy. He then proceeds to develop this idea, delivering a reasonable and rational argument as to how eating the children of destitute families would benefit Ireland. This proposal contains sound socioeconomic logic, and had it been enacted, the scheme would have benefitted various aspects of Irish society.
"A Modest Proposal" revolves around the notion that using the children of poor households as food and clothing would be beneficial for society. It begins with a description of Dublin, a town in Ireland, as having streets lined with “beggars... followed by three, four, or six
Baby Eating – Economic Savior of the Irish Realm
When the Great Depression occurred in 1929, there were numerous American bank failures, approximating nine thousand by the depression 's end.1 Recently, the United States has just recovered from a period of economic contraction, due largely to the bursting of the housing bubble. 168 banks closed during this recession, but what prevented it from reaching the Great Depression 's severity was a large government bailout of banks.2 This quick action saved the economy from a plummet that would have devastated it for years. In the 18th century, Ireland faced a similar economic shock. England imposed trade restrictions that forced many people to lose their jobs and homes. The Cattle Acts outlawed the importation of livestock, and the Navigation Acts “prohibited the exportation of goods to any English colony unless they were loaded in English ships (carrying English crews) at English ports.”3 Beggars flooded the streets, needing funds to support their most basic of needs. Numerous ideas were proposed to turn this economic contraction around, but to no avail. However, one writer, Jonathan Swift, developed a creative approach that, had it been implemented, may have been Ireland 's economic savior. In his work, "A Modest Proposal," Swift presents the idea of eating the children of impoverished families in order to boost the economy. He then proceeds to develop this idea, delivering a reasonable and rational argument as to how eating the children of destitute families would benefit Ireland. This proposal contains sound socioeconomic logic, and had it been enacted, the scheme would have benefitted various aspects of Irish society.
"A Modest Proposal" revolves around the notion that using the children of poor households as food and clothing would be beneficial for society. It begins with a description of Dublin, a town in Ireland, as having streets lined with “beggars... followed by three, four, or six
Cited: Christensen, Jane, and Edmund J. Farrell. Discoveries in Literature: America Reads. Glenview, IL: Scott, Foresman, 1991. Print. "Conditions in 18th-Century Ireland." Kansas State University. Kansas State University, 28 Mar. 1999. Web. 01 Mar. 2014. FDIC "Historical Currency Conversions." Historical Currency Conversions. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Mar. 2014. Wheelock, David C. "Regulation, Market Structure, and the Bank Failures of the Great Depression." Review. Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. Web. PDF. 01 Mar. 2014 Notes 1 David C. Wheelock. Regulation, Market Structure, and the Bank Failures of the Great Depression. Review. Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. Web. PDF. 01 Mar. 2014. Page 1. 2 FDIC. Number of Institutions United States (50 States and DC) 2007 - 2009. FDIC: HSOB Bank & Thrift Failures. FDIC, n.d. Web. 28 Feb. 2014. 3Conditions in 18th-Century Ireland. Kansas State University. Kansas State University, 28 Mar. 1999. Web. 01 Mar. 2014. 4 Christensen, Jane, and Edmund J 9Historical Currency Conversions. Historical Currency Conversions. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Mar. 2014.