a modest proposal

A Modest Proposal is when somebody suggests that eating babies might not be such a bad idea. This is taken from the satirical book of the same name written by Jonathan Swift in 1729. He frankly suggested that poor people ought to sell their children as food to the upper class in order to stimulate the economy and bring Ireland out of a sort of depression. Here's an excerpt: "A young healthy child well nursed, is, at a year old, a most delicious nourishing and wholesome food, whether stewed, roasted, baked, or boiled; and I make no doubt that it will equally serve in a fricassee, or a ragoust."