Upton Sinclair on the impact of his book, "The Jungle".

[Os Cangaceiros]

The Federal inspection of meat was, historically, established at the packers' request...it is maintained and paid for by the people of the United States for the benefit of the packers...men wearing the blue uniforms and brass buttons of the United States service are employed for the purpose of certifying to the nations of the civilized world that all the diseased and tainted meat which happens to come into existence in the United States of America is carefully sifted out and consumed by the American people.


I am supposed to have helped clean up the yards and improve the country's meat supply-though this is mostly delusion. But nobody ever even pretends to believe that I improved the conditions for stockyard workers.

Thought these quotes were interesting.

[Aspiring Humanist]

I aimed at the public's heart and by accident hit it's stomach (referencing the graphic nature of the Jungle)

Interesting how the publics response is to attack the result of the problem instead of the cause

[thesadmafioso]

I think "The Jungle" is a brilliant piece of literature, but I have to say that is is absolutely infuriating to examine the development of the historical position which it has been forced into. It is now somehow accepted as just another work of the ever so wonderful progressive era and it perfectly acceptable light reading for any and all liberals, one which supposedly talks about how the meat packing industry really just needs a bit more government oversight to be fixed. Though in the name of fairness, I think it safe to say that most of such liberals hardly make it past the first 100 pages of the book.

I mean, the book essentially turns into a beautifully crafted case in support of socialism for its last half, yet liberals just like to ignore that bothersome fact and claim it is a work of their own. It is nothing short of a liberal revision of history in more ways than not.

[Aspiring Humanist]

Read the unabridged version then