ABOUT POLITICAL EUPHEMISMS

   "Political language relies on euphemisms to obscure the connection between intention and action so regularly that politicians already expect the language they employ in their public speeches to disguise their true intentions or the direct connection between their words and actions."—Stephanie Ruiz.

   For example, the Global War on Terror (Bush) was renamed Overseas Contingency Operation (Obama).

   Today in Congress there are bills introduced routinely, the titles of which are patent examples of political euphemisms. Inflation Reduction Act (Biden) is one of them. Of and by itself it does little to reduce inflation but it contains language which conveys the perception that inflation will be reduced by the very process which enabled it—a Congressional bill—such as the $122 billion American Rescue Plan Act (Biden).

   Charles Gridley of Cortland referred to political euphemisms as bones of contention. He claimed that most political edicts or laws contained titles that were always debatable. He often suggested that the statement, "It's all about the children," was a political euphemism, and that the true meaning was, "It's all about the teachers." This view, he claimed, was obviously a bone of contention. He also recognized a cliché when he used it.

   Before his early death he cautioned readers and listeners to look closely at the words employed by politicians. In the opinion of this writer, Charles Gridley would directly connect intention and action in laws created by politicians. He believed that the hidden intention was the precursor of the overt action. This conclusion suggests another cliché: "Actions speak louder than words." 

   Gridley's Ghost.