Orwellian Speak

The Gentle Art of Government Speak

or How To Speak Orwellian in any Tongue.

1. Use “Civil War” not “War for Independence.”

If a civil war is a war between factions in a territory for control of that territory and a war for independence is a war by a faction to control independently a portion of a given territory why do we call the War for The Confederacy’s Independence ‘the Civil War’? Why did we modify our meaning of civil war allow a lie? Because that sounds too much like a right Jefferson wrote into the Declaration of Independence (silly).

The Orwellians would call the unpleasantries starting in 1775 in the British North America Colonies a “Civil War.”

2. Use “Conscription” not "Slavery or Bondage"

The definition of slavery or bondage is the state of being bound by or subjected to some external power or control, involuntary servitude or serfdom. If the government must have conscripts (slaves) to fight its wars overseas, the arguments will be keep down if patriotism and nationalism are lubricated with mild words like ‘the draft’ or ‘selective service.’

Military defense of our country on our own soil (against a foreign invader) would have no lack of volunteers. Military against another people (on their soil) needs more salesmanship or bondage.

3. Use “Reform” when Government wants to Seize or Expand Its Power and shrink the Free Market.

Use “Congressional Reform” to say that some minor rules changes will make truthful people out of politicians…..honest

Use “Health Care Reform” is stead of Socializing Health Care when the government goes from a monopoly-cartel system to a single payer system of health care.

Use “Tax Reform” instead of Raise Taxes to take more money for government to squander. It makes no difference that the upper income may the lion’s share of taxes, the lower income have the votes. “Soak the rich” always plays well. After all they aren’t any smarter or they don’t work any harder or they are just lucky to have all of their money right? Claim that you are just making taxes “more fair.” You want to lighten the burden on the most needy. Use Bush II’s line “I am firm in my desire to get something done.” But by no means tell the truth that you wish to reward your supports and punish your opponents. Never ever admit the real problem is government spending. Never explain that the worst way to spend money is for a politician to take it from some individuals and spend it on other individuals, as this distorts and destroys economies.