A comparison of A modest Proposal and Present Day America

A modest Proposal by Swift (1729) highlights the economic and social situation of Ireland in the 18^th century. The biggest problem is the issue of poverty. To ease the situation, women go on the streets along with their children to beg for food. According to Swift (1729), this is a big problem that needs resolution; he therefore sets up a modest proposal for which he does not expect any objection. There are various ways that A Modest Proposal compares and contrasts with the modern day America.

First, the issue of family planning is foreign to the Ireland community. Swift says that begging women are found on the streets followed by three, four or six children. Furthermore, even in his bid to get a solution for the poverty problem, Swift does not propose family planning. In contrast, the present day America highly campaigns for various forms of family planning. The article highlights situations where very poor families find themselves with several children.

Second, the magnitude of poverty is of a higher magnitude compared with the 21^st century America. Within the proposal is a proposal for parents to sell of their children for ten shillings. This shows a high need for material things most probably fueled by the poverty. It is probable that the poverty facilitates the high number of births in the town. Women could probably be getting involved in sexual activities ina  bid to get money.

Human rights are also foreign to Ireland in the 18^th century. The article proposes that people sell off their children for various reasons. First, there are those who are sold off for the preparation of delicacies. Those who are above twelve years are considered for other activities including slavery. This would be a campaign for human rights violation if put forward in the same way in the American society. In the present day America, human rights are highly protected. Slavery and slavery are all highly opposed.

On the other hand, the two societies are also similar in a few ways. First, in both societies, there exists a form of governance. In A modest Proposal by Swift (1729), the article proposes suggests the presence of a government system in several instances. Swift mentions several titles of power in the article. This implies that he at least has an idea of how a governance system works.

Ireland and the USA both have a problem of poverty and street begging that they want to eradicate. While the situation is much lower in the US, there have been several laws that have been intent to lower the rate number of beggars in the streets (Glasmier 157). Such laws include provision of other methods of giving to charity to compete with beggars. There have also been crackdowns in states like California to get rid of beggars. On the other hand, Swift gives this article primarily to reduce the number of children in the streets.

In conclusion, the two societies are very different societies. In the present day America, family planning has been embraced. In Ireland, the practice may not even have been discovered. Secondly, the society has a lower regard for human rights. Practices like selling children for money would be highly opposed in the USA. On the other hand, both countries have a similar situation they are trying to handle. Begging and poverty are a common problem in both cases.

Works Cited

Swift, Jonathan. “A Modest Proposal.(1729).” (1999).

Glasmeier, Amy K. “One nation, pulling apart: the basis of persistent poverty in the USA.” Progress in Human Geography 26.2 (2002): 155-173.