From My Perspective - - -
Book Burning – let’s start with the Dictionary, Thesaurus, Encyclopedia, or any other Definitive Tome. Definition became part of the ABC discussion Sunday between George Stephanopoulos and President Obama regarding a Tax and a Mandate. Their exchange: “STEPHANOPOULOS: Merriam Webster's Dictionary: Tax "is a charge, usually of money, imposed by authority on persons or property for public purposes.” OBAMA: George, the fact that you looked up Merriam's Dictionary, the definition of tax increase, indicates to me that you're stretching a little bit right now. Otherwise, you wouldn't have gone to the dictionary to check on the definition. STEPHANOPOULOS: I wanted to check for myself. But your critics say it is a tax increase. OBAMA: My critics say everything is a tax increase. My critics say that I'm taking over every sector of the economy…we can have a legitimate debate about whether or not we're going to have an individual mandate or not… STEPHANOPOULOS: But you reject that it’s a tax increase? OBAMA: I absolutely reject that notion.”
If Definition of Words doesn’t matter, how can there be clarity in Communication? If definitions are disallowed, then the one who proposes a particular legislative proposal can supply his/her own definition to both mollify and maintain vagueness with constituents and countrymen.
WHAT IS A TAX? When used as a Noun, it means: “a sum of money demanded by a government for its support or for specific facilities or services, levied upon incomes, property, sales…” When used as a Verb, it means: “to demand a tax from a person, business, etc…to lay a burden on; make serious demands on…”
WHAT IS A MANDATE? A Mandate is: “a command or authorization to act in a particular way on a public issue given by the electorate to its representative…an authoritative order or command…to order or require; make mandatory…” The Thesaurus allows that a Mandate is: “Authority, Order” that includes the overall possibility for subjective interpretation and application in a far-ranging way: “authorization, bidding, blank check, charge, dictate, directive, edict, go-ahead, imperative, injunction, sanction, warrant…”
The same holds true for a Czar. What is a Czar? By definition, a Czar is: “An appointed official having special powers to regulate or supervise an activity…A person having great power; an autocrat…” How does one avoid undue concern about such a person and appointment? Simply – change the definition of Czar. Employ a Euphemism instead. Call the Czar a “Point Person”! When the President recently addressed the AFL-CIO, he tested out his euphemism when he said: “That’s why we’re investing in a clean energy economy that will free America from the grip of foreign oil and create millions of new green jobs that can’t be outsourced. That’s why I’ve named A NEW POINT PERSON to jumpstart American manufacturing so that we can make ‘Made in America’ not just a slogan, we want to make it a reality.”
Someone has allowed that the twelve most important words for a successful marriage are: “I Love You…I Am Wrong…I Am Sorry…Please Forgive Me…” What if a Presidential Commission or a Congressional Committee was assigned the task of simply stating the most important words to be championed by the Government and the US Constitution for a successful marriage – How many pages would it take? How many months would it be debated? Who would be able to understand it? Would all the Judicial District Courts be uniform in both understanding and application of the Congressional determinations?
The Sermon on the Mount – the words of Jesus, in Matthew 5:33-37, are significant, clear, logical. “…it was said to the people long ago, Do not break your oath, but keep the oaths you have made to the Lord. But I tell you, Do not swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God's throne; or by the earth, for it is His footstool…Simply let your Yes be Yes, and your No, No; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.”
The ideas are clear: Keep it simple! Keep it straight-forward! Avoid vagueness! Don’t try to hide behind nuances, euphemisms, or abstractions! Saying a Mandate is not a Tax – doesn’t make it so! Using a Euphemism does not change the person, position, or his authority.
Personal Integrity should never be compromised; nuanced; hidden behind a euphemism. Let your life be clearly definable – hopefully one that is submitted to Jesus Christ. Consider these things with me!
Book Burning – let’s start with the Dictionary, Thesaurus, Encyclopedia, or any other Definitive Tome. Definition became part of the ABC discussion Sunday between George Stephanopoulos and President Obama regarding a Tax and a Mandate. Their exchange: “STEPHANOPOULOS: Merriam Webster's Dictionary: Tax "is a charge, usually of money, imposed by authority on persons or property for public purposes.” OBAMA: George, the fact that you looked up Merriam's Dictionary, the definition of tax increase, indicates to me that you're stretching a little bit right now. Otherwise, you wouldn't have gone to the dictionary to check on the definition. STEPHANOPOULOS: I wanted to check for myself. But your critics say it is a tax increase. OBAMA: My critics say everything is a tax increase. My critics say that I'm taking over every sector of the economy…we can have a legitimate debate about whether or not we're going to have an individual mandate or not… STEPHANOPOULOS: But you reject that it’s a tax increase? OBAMA: I absolutely reject that notion.”
If Definition of Words doesn’t matter, how can there be clarity in Communication? If definitions are disallowed, then the one who proposes a particular legislative proposal can supply his/her own definition to both mollify and maintain vagueness with constituents and countrymen.
WHAT IS A TAX? When used as a Noun, it means: “a sum of money demanded by a government for its support or for specific facilities or services, levied upon incomes, property, sales…” When used as a Verb, it means: “to demand a tax from a person, business, etc…to lay a burden on; make serious demands on…”
WHAT IS A MANDATE? A Mandate is: “a command or authorization to act in a particular way on a public issue given by the electorate to its representative…an authoritative order or command…to order or require; make mandatory…” The Thesaurus allows that a Mandate is: “Authority, Order” that includes the overall possibility for subjective interpretation and application in a far-ranging way: “authorization, bidding, blank check, charge, dictate, directive, edict, go-ahead, imperative, injunction, sanction, warrant…”
The same holds true for a Czar. What is a Czar? By definition, a Czar is: “An appointed official having special powers to regulate or supervise an activity…A person having great power; an autocrat…” How does one avoid undue concern about such a person and appointment? Simply – change the definition of Czar. Employ a Euphemism instead. Call the Czar a “Point Person”! When the President recently addressed the AFL-CIO, he tested out his euphemism when he said: “That’s why we’re investing in a clean energy economy that will free America from the grip of foreign oil and create millions of new green jobs that can’t be outsourced. That’s why I’ve named A NEW POINT PERSON to jumpstart American manufacturing so that we can make ‘Made in America’ not just a slogan, we want to make it a reality.”
Someone has allowed that the twelve most important words for a successful marriage are: “I Love You…I Am Wrong…I Am Sorry…Please Forgive Me…” What if a Presidential Commission or a Congressional Committee was assigned the task of simply stating the most important words to be championed by the Government and the US Constitution for a successful marriage – How many pages would it take? How many months would it be debated? Who would be able to understand it? Would all the Judicial District Courts be uniform in both understanding and application of the Congressional determinations?
The Sermon on the Mount – the words of Jesus, in Matthew 5:33-37, are significant, clear, logical. “…it was said to the people long ago, Do not break your oath, but keep the oaths you have made to the Lord. But I tell you, Do not swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God's throne; or by the earth, for it is His footstool…Simply let your Yes be Yes, and your No, No; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.”
The ideas are clear: Keep it simple! Keep it straight-forward! Avoid vagueness! Don’t try to hide behind nuances, euphemisms, or abstractions! Saying a Mandate is not a Tax – doesn’t make it so! Using a Euphemism does not change the person, position, or his authority.
Personal Integrity should never be compromised; nuanced; hidden behind a euphemism. Let your life be clearly definable – hopefully one that is submitted to Jesus Christ. Consider these things with me!
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