May 24, 2007 12:34PM 

# A Modest Pearlstein? 

By [Thomas A. Firey](https://www.cato.org/people/thomas-firey) 

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Further to [David’s post below](https://www.cato.org/2007/05/23/pet-rocks-leisure-suits-and-oil-companies/) on *WaPo* columnist Steven Pearlstein’s [recent column](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/22/AR2007052201386.html) proposing a national oil company, I notice that Pearlstein, in his fourth graf, terms his suggestion “a modest proposal.”

This is in the [Swiftian sense](http://art-bin.com/art/omodest.html), right?

Steven? Little help?

##### Related Tags 

[Energy and Environment](https://www.cato.org/research/energy-environment), [Government and Politics](https://www.cato.org/government-politics) 

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