I have an essay due in my 18th Century Literature class next week. One of the options is to write my own “Modest Proposal” based on the original work and style of Johnathan Swift. If you are not familiar with this work you have likely heard it referenced somewhere in your life. Swift creates a satirical proposal in which he suggests that the poverty-stricken families of Ireland should sell their babies and toddlers to the upper class to be cooked and served as food. This would be a delicacy and would solve the problem of the numerous poor, starving children in that country. The parents would be paid well for their child and would therefore be given an opportunity to make a living and the country’s economy would receive a boost. He even suggests ways that this proposal would improve the morality and social systems in the society.
It is a very interesting read and I am intriuged by the challenge of writing my own Modest Proposal. But I am lacking ideas. Everything I come up with still seems to have something to do with poverty. I thought of allowing poor Canadian families to sell their children to the government for use in medical experimentation, thus giving the parents a means to make money and saving children from a future of pain and suffering and helping aleviate suffering in the general population. The government could even sell medical discoveries made from this program to other countries for a price. This would be an economic benefit.
The problem with this proposal, like I said, is it still deals with the issue of poverty. I’d like to try something more unique but I am lacking ideas. So I am asking you to help me out if you have anything. It could be related to political corruption or any marginalized group in Canada. It just has to address a real problem and have a solution that is completely horrifying, though utterly logical if you take emotion out of the picture.
I’d appreciate any help you guys can give me.
January 18th, 2006 at 4:57 pm
Hey Shannon,
Well, since I am reading “How Wal-Mart is Destroying America (and the World) And What You Can Do About It”, it is on my brain that you could write something about what to do with all the empty stores downtown, how to appreciate the “beauty” of urban sprawl, or how to get more Wal-Marts into your city, etc. I’m not sure if that is very original or if you could come up with an ironic solution, but that is all I can come up with at the moment.
If I get another brain-wave, I’ll let you know!
-Jessica B.
January 18th, 2006 at 7:03 pm
The First Nations in this country are constantly marginalized and with the threat of a Conservative governement you could spin it from a political standpoint.
The problem:
1) Aboriginal peoples in Canada are demanding funding from the government because of lack of jobs.
2) Also Aboriginal people are demanding self-governance within Canada.
The solution:
1) Give Aboriginal peoples the Territories. This would provide jobs because all of the non-Aboriginal people would have to leave and there would be a tremendous population increase.
Another idea may be to talk about the relationship Canada has with the USA.
The problem:
1) US tariffs on Canadian products (i.e. soft wood lumber and beef).
The solution:
1) Allow the USA to annex us in order to get around the issue of tariffs on Canadian goods. That way we can increase our trading and it also gets rid of our pesky federal elections (really our votes don’t mean anything here anyways). It’s a win win, except for the totalitarianism and such, but whatever. This would also help us to finally have an identity, you know, American. This is way more clear than our current identity, not-American. I also think that if the USA would just go ahead and annex us, we would not have to worry so much about losing out to denmark for that crappy little island up north (Hans Island, between Greenland and Elsemere Island in the Arctic), I’m quite confident that George W. would not let that shit fly. This also means that the Americans may actually win a world hockey tournament.
Anyway, two ideas. If I get any more I will let you know. Man, I wish I could write a modest proposal now. Maybe I will for fun!
Oh, and by the by, “Modest Proposal” is my favourite piece of sarcasm ever. We read it in high school and I thought it was great. A lot of time put into thinking about the absurd. Where would we be without sarcasm.
January 19th, 2006 at 8:58 am
The working population of Saskatchewan is seeing a constant reduction. Perhaps we could place some kind of fine on Alberta for every Sask native that moves there – you know – share the wealth – get our talented people. Our #1 export… people. I know it’s not very good, but it is all I can think of right now. I don’t think I am demented enough to think of something like eating babies as a delicacy.
January 19th, 2006 at 12:34 pm
I’ve been thinking about your essay topic. Perhaps you could write about something close to home. The government refusing to pay for your insulin pump. Thinking on the medical vein… maybe something on wait times… I’m not too sure. I always have a rough time coming up with these sorts of ideas. Some other topics (no solutions): illiteracy?
Wendy
January 20th, 2006 at 5:14 pm
Over the years many politicians have come up with crazy and irresponsible ideas to help “integrate” Aboriginal people into Canadian society.
Here is one such ridiculous idea.
A modest proposal: Just give everyone equal rights!
Get rid of the treaties!
Get rid of the special social programs!
Get rid of reserves and the Indian Act!
It’s because of these special rights that Aboriginal people have social problems in the first place.
Then EVERYONE will have equal opportunities!
Trudeau’s government tried this in 1968. It didn’t go over so well. Surprisingly a good number of Conservative MP’s still believe this kind of social irresponsibility could work. Never mind the agreements sworn under God. Just throw those treaties out the window.
Posted by Jessica Morgun