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Government-to-English Dictionary

Posted by SaltyDog 9 years, 2 months ago to Government
92 comments | Share | Best of... | Flag

Let's put together a list of the obscure, misleading and downright confusing words and expressions used by our government.

Please include the word or expression, the context and the definition if it is known!


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  • Posted by sumitch 9 years, 2 months ago in reply to this comment.
    Or a word meaning that you keep the people away from the money they have worked for and earned.
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  • Posted by sumitch 9 years, 2 months ago
    Comprehensive. Adjective. A word to make you think that it is inclusive and covers everything you want that is good and fair but in fact includes everything you don't want. Code for you lose, we win.

    Alternate. A term often used by the government, usually with a bill, that will contain everything you don't want but you won't know it until after it’s made the law of the land. See Obama Care. Closely associated with unprecedented.
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  • Posted by $ puzzlelady 9 years, 2 months ago
    Extraordinary National Security Threat: A trumped-up excuse to sanction/invade/bomb/overthrow the government of any country, even if they are at least 1000 miles from our shores, without Congressional approval.

    National security: the blanket excuse to tell us nothing.

    National security interest: Any and every excuse to allow us to demonize, destabilize, invade, overthrow, occupy, impoverish and destroy any country anywhere, and for any length of time.
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  • Posted by Flootus5 9 years, 2 months ago
    And then there is:

    Phrase: "You have to pass the bill to see whats in it."

    Meaning: "Go away and let us send the nation down the drain without you questioning and objecting."

    God, this just keeps going on, rather illuminating and as usual, discouraging.
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  • Posted by NealS 9 years, 2 months ago in reply to this comment.
    Definition: We're going to rip it apart
    Definition 2: We're going to share it..
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  • Posted by $ puzzlelady 9 years, 2 months ago
    Terrorist: Any inhabitant of a country we've invaded.
    Insurgent: Any group looking to overthrow a government we support and in which we have military bases..
    Resistance fighter: Any group helpful to us in trying to overthrow a government we don't like.
    Freedom fighter: The same as any of the above three but in countries invaded by other than us or our allies.
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  • Posted by $ puzzlelady 9 years, 2 months ago in reply to this comment.
    It means that large users will not be allowed to pay more to get faster service. It means tilting the playing field in favor of underdogs. It means the government has nationalized the bandwidths.

    Funny. They don't seem to mind toll roads or express lanes for faster travel for those willing to pay.

    "Neutrality" once meant no government involvement. It has been coopted and turned on its head to mean government regulation limiting the rich (the largest operators).
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  • Posted by $ allosaur 9 years, 2 months ago
    Obama's touted and spouted TRANSPARENCY
    "I'm going to lie to you so many times that you will see through me every time I move my lips. But don't cross that red line to criticize me. One of my sheeple flakes will call you a racist. Have a nice day and, oh, if you want to keep your freedom, you can."
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  • Posted by johnpe1 9 years, 2 months ago in reply to this comment.
    they keep the money back, to subsidize the Fed's
    zero-interest union-pension-fund stock marker antics. -- j
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  • Posted by johnpe1 9 years, 2 months ago in reply to this comment.
    alternate definition: I love everyone who works
    hard and is successful, because I can steal from
    you and give it to my friends/voters/family. -- j

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  • Posted by johnpe1 9 years, 2 months ago
    fair = PC
    good = bad for the u.s.
    strong = weak military, heavy BS

    and so it goes. -- j

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  • Posted by cjferraris 9 years, 2 months ago
    Revenue Service = Revenue (the money I take in) + Service (What my bull does to my cow)
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  • Posted by eimb1999 9 years, 2 months ago
    Phrase: "We will need to invest more in our community"

    Meaning: "We will tax the sh*% outta you to pay for all our cronies, corruption, greed and stupidity.
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  • Posted by frodo_b 9 years, 2 months ago
    Phrase: National Security
    Definition: The status quo


    Try it. Substitute "status quo" every time someone from the government talks about "national security" and you would be amazed how clear things become.
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  • Posted by $ jbrenner 9 years, 2 months ago
    Social Security: Looters and moochers will feel secure as they redistribute the earnings of producers. Producers will be secure in knowing that they now have a harder time being independent.
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    Posted by Zenphamy 9 years, 2 months ago
    Fair share -- From those that have/earn to those that need/want.
    Inequality -- I'm special and deserve more
    Patriotism -- Trust your leaders
    Respect for the Office -- I can get away with anything
    What have you got to Hide -- You have no rights
    Apprehend and Arrest -- Kill with prejudice
    The News -- Propaganda
    Education -- Indoctrination
    Public Servant -- I'm better than you
    Climate Change -- Control of Masses
    Consensus -- I like what you say
    Voluntary -- You go to prison if you don't, or I ruin your life and may kill you
    Public Service -- License to steal from you and get rich
    Cognitive Behavioral Therapy -- Brain washing

    I could go on with this all day long, but this is enough for now. Good post.
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  • Posted by 9 years, 2 months ago
    "Add Liquidity", "Remove Liquidity"

    Sounds pretty benign, doesn't it? In English it means to lower interest rates or increase interest rates by injecting more cash or removing cash from circulation. Either one is not good news for consumers in general...there are serious drawbacks to both.

    Ah, yes...the Federal Reserve.

    The Fed's dual mandate included studying the economy in order to strive to maintain stability. It has morphed into an instrument of political policy. That's OK I guess, except for the fact that the pols who are pulling the strings don't understand economics...they understand getting and staying elected. Effectively, when you hear of some politician "going after Wall Street", he/she is mouthing empty phrases. One only has to understand the economic theory du jour, at this point it's the followers of John Maynard Keynes. So if you're an huge multi-national you don't need insider information. All you need is some genius from Wharton who understands the theory that is in vogue but doesn't believe in it. So effective the system can be legally gamed by the companies that can afford high six figure analysts.

    Central planning has never worked. Let me repeat that, because it bears repeating...central planning has never, ever worked. But that little fact doesn't seem to deter anyone in power from trying.

    When you hear the words, "This time it's different!", watch out.
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  • Posted by richrobinson 9 years, 2 months ago
    Phrase-"No longer an operable truth"

    Meaning- I lied and you figured it out before I had another one ready.
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  • Posted by tentoone 9 years, 2 months ago
    Our tax system is "voluntary".

    Def: pay or be arrested.
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  • Posted by khalling 9 years, 2 months ago in reply to this comment.
    some will parse the whole original definition. ask the techies in here but it is originally an internet protocol term that was co-opted
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