Can we transform the language of politics?

Political commentary is plagued by a collection of terms that carry a pejorative connotation. Discourse would be more balanced if they could be replaced with words that were even-handed. Here are some examples.

‘Back-flip’ and its colourful variants, ‘back-down’ and ‘about-face’ are terms used to indicate a change of mind or a different approach. Politicians are entitled to change their minds in the face of new evidence, different thinking or changed circumstances; the opposite, sticking stubbornly to an outdated or untenable position, is foolish. So why not use terms such as ‘change of mind’ or ‘different approach’, or ‘new tactic’ or ‘changed attitude’.

The inelegant terms ‘me-too’ and ‘me-too-ism’, used throughout the recent campaign, have a pejorative nuance. The words are code for ‘this is our policy and so we agree’, or ‘we agree with that policy’ or ‘that sound like a good idea, we’ll adopt it’. No one has exclusive access to good ideas. So why use uncomplimentary terms to describe those who adopt the good ideas of others?

Often ideas, proposals or political structures are described as being in ‘tatters’ or ‘disarray’ or even ‘chaos’ or ‘a shambles’ when something threatens them. These terms imply a disastrous turn of events, yet often something much less catastrophic has occurred. So why not use terms such as ‘threatened’ or ‘jeopardised’ or ‘imperilled’?

Of course the usual motivation for using pejorative terms is to demean the person or party under scrutiny, or to sarcastically humiliate. It is part of the daily cut and thrust of adversarial politics or political commentary used by those who take a partisan position, or newspaper editors seeking a catchy headline. Adversarial politics is a curse upon our political system. Scoring political points at every opportunity is an object of most politicians. It sets on edge the teeth of most of the electorate, whose response is simply to ‘turn off’. What a joy it is to hear politicians of different persuasions agreeing with one another, or giving credit.

Political discourse would be so much more productive and creative if deliberation was more collaborative, more mutually cooperative, more accommodating; if all the good ideas from all sides were accepted, acknowledged and pooled.

We might bring about such a change if we, the citizens of this nation, now raise our voices against the use of exaggerated, depreciatory or derogatory language by our politicians, commentators and columnists. A change of government is a good time to start.

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