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Misnomers
North Miami Beach, FL April 1, 2001 Aaron H.
Schectman
THINKING ALLOWED
Essays on issues, ideas and reflections on the times. Published now and
then, Opinions pro or con are welcome.
"MISNOMERS" OR WHY WE DON'T CALL THINGS BY
THEIR PROPER NAMES
NOW, TAKE POLITICS - PLEASE!
There are many terms in use that do not mean what we think they say. For
instance this group: "Politics", "Lobby", "soft money", "presidential
humor", "Democratic Party leaders", "will of the people",
"Vice-presidentiality" and "Representatives".
The word, "Politics", is a great choice to explain the meaning of
"misnomers". Politics has to do with "polis" and "polity" both of which
refer to "people". People really have little control over the process where
the public gets to make choices. Politics is the creature of processes
invented to place people under the control of cynical and power needy
monsters. We sometimes elect these as our representatives and they
shamelessly try to influence our votes - lately by throwing huge amounts of
their own money at us. (See "soft-money")
To "lob" is to throw as in "to throw a baseball". A lobby is the entrance
to an apartment building. Bottom feeders cluster in lobbies or anterooms of
the houses of power to influence votes. (See "Representatives")
"Soft Money" does not refer to its consistency. Its softness has to do with
it being beyond accountability. It also may have to do with it being used
unfairly in political contests. Soft money is one way to influence votes.
(See "Politics" and "Lobby")
"Presidential humor" is a misnomer. The President cannot, should not and
really is incapable of using jokes in any of the contexts in which he works.
This applies to any of the presidents we have had or will have in the
future. What may be meant in a humorous context can be interpreted as lack
of thought, lack of insight, lack of knowledge, and lack of care as to who
may be the target of the words used. The use of presidential humor may be
intended to influence votes. (See "Politics")
"Will of the People" is another phrase that is a misnomer. Which "people"
is meant? What kind of will is it? When you get down to it the PEOPLE have
no coherent will that can accurately be calculated for people are not very
specific. The will of the people can be seen in their voting patterns. (See
"Representatives", "Politics" and "Presidential Humor")
"Vice-presidentiality" is a made up word. There is no such thing as
Vice-presidentiality. We have a vice-president today who may be more than
the President. Many Vice-Presidents were kept in virtual house arrest by
their presidents. Only one, the late Democratic one, was allowed some
freedom but he was cut off at the knees when he tried for "Presidentiality".
Vice-Presidents try to influence voters to vote for a presidential candidate
and, incidentally, for him or herself as vice-president. (See "Politics",
"Representatives" and "Presidential Humor")
"Representatives" is a misnomer because our representatives do such a poor
job of representing most of us. They certainly do a good job of
misrepresenting themselves as the right choice of voters. In fact, they
spend most of their time trying to influence the votes of other
representatives - like the lobbyists - for pet causes and most importantly
to get themselves elected again and again. (See all of the above)
Misnomer is a hard word to use. We hardly ever call things by their proper
names. We do not really use words correctly anyway for the misinformation
industry is in full swing all the time.
Carol's Evaluation:10+ out of 10.
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