]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]     A POLITICAL GLOSSARY         [[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[ 
                        by Thomas Sowell                   (10/23/88)
(From Compassion Versus Guilt and Other Essays, NY: Morrow,1987)
             [Kindly uploaded by Freeman 10602PANC]

   Every field has  its own special  words and expressions, which
others find hard  to understand.  Politics  is no exception.  For
those who have difficulty understanding the strange way words are used
by politicians and the media, here is a glossary translating political
rhetoric into plain English:

"crisis": any situation you want to change
"bilingual": unable to speak English
"equal opportunity": preferential treatment
"non-judgmental": blaming society
"compassion": the use of tax money to buy votes
"insensitivity": objections to the use of tax money to buy votes
"simplistic": an argument you disagree with but can't answer
"rehabilitation": magic word said before releasing criminals
"demonstration": a riot by people you agree with
"mob violence": a riot by people you disagree with
"a matter of principle": a political controversy involving the
                         convictions of liberals
"an emotional issue": a political controversy involving the
                      convictions of conservatives
"funding": money from the government
"commitment": more money from the government
"docu-drama": a work of fiction about famous people
"autobiography": a work of fiction about yourself
"federal budget": a work of fiction about government spending
"people's republic": a place where you do what you are told or
                     get shot
"national liberation movements": organizations trying to create
                                 people's republics
"policy  research":   looking  for  statistics   to  support  the
                   position you have already taken
"stereotypes": behavior patterns you don't want to think about
"Reaganomics": media explanation of downturns in the economy
"robust economy": media explanation of upturns in the economy
"constitutional interpretation": judges reading their own
                                 political views into the
                                 Constitution
"politicizing the  courts": criticizing judges  for reading their
                           own political views into the
                           Constitution
"a proud people": chauvinists you like
"bigots": chauvinists you don't like
"anti-war  movement":  disarmament advocates  who  know  the idea
                     won't fly under its own name
"private greed": making money selling people what they want
"public service": gaining  power to make people  do what you want
                  them to
"innovation": something new
"new innovation": something new by someone who doesn't understand
                  English
"competency": competence, as described by the incompetent
"moderate Arabs": mythical beings to whom State Department
                  officials make sacrificial offerings
"special interest lobby": politically organized conservatives
"public interest group": politically organized liberals
"accountability": holding teachers, public officials, and private
                  businesses responsible for the consequences of
                  their misdeeds
"chilling effect": holding journalists responsible for the
                   consequences of their misdeeds

                                              -- November 8, 1985

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