This idiomatic expression, derived from the imagery of livestock feeding greedily, serves as the title of a 2009 book by Ariana Huffington. The work critiques the perceived excessive compensation and self-serving behavior of individuals within the financial industry, particularly in the context of the 2008 financial crisis. It argues that these behaviors contributed significantly to the economic downturn, leaving ordinary citizens to bear the consequences.
The book’s significance lies in its contribution to the broader discourse surrounding corporate greed, economic inequality, and the need for greater accountability within the financial sector. Published during the aftermath of a major economic crisis, it provided a critical perspective on the perceived failures of regulatory oversight and the ethical lapses within powerful institutions. This perspective resonated with a public grappling with the consequences of the crisis and seeking explanations for its occurrence.