The destruction of the NHS is not going to be Nick Clegg’s worse legacy. He’s done something even worse.
Language really, really matters.
Don’t worry, I’m not talking about being snobby over misspelt words or wrongly placed apostrophes. I’m talking about language affecting us in real ways which can have real-life repercussions on massively important things like our health, our well-being, our happiness.
Words really can change things in concrete ways.
There are recent examples in politics where just one little word has destroyed a political party for a generation.
In Labour’s case, in the 80s, it was the word ‘loony‘. The ‘loony left‘ haunted every Labour politician until Blair and New Labour sunk it forever by being worse than loony. They became ‘moderate‘.
In the Tory’s case it was the word ‘nasty‘ – a term coined in 2002 but which is still haunting them today and is the real reason they failed to win the last election.
But even more destructive is the ongoing misuse of everyday words which affects all of us negatively in concrete ways, and the effects of this linguistic abuse can sometimes be felt for generations.
This ‘dumbing down’ of everyday words is being used more and more in marketing. A good illustration is the word ‘pure‘ when applied to orange juice for example.
If I buy pure orange juice it isn’t actually ‘pure‘ at all. It’s concentrate mixed with water. Of course it’s possible to buy ‘pure‘ orange juice but it can’t be described as ‘pure‘ because that word no longer means pure – so they tell us it’s ‘freshly squeezed‘ or ‘fresh‘ or ‘natural‘ – all of which of course it’s not.
And what is the concrete result of this misuse of words by the orange juice industry? Well – we all end up drinking lower quality orange juice.
Don’t believe me? See here:
Squeezed: The Secrets of the Orange Juice Industry.
The misuse of words has actually resulted in a real world deterioration in quality for all of us.
And so we come to Nick Clegg. Some people say the worse legacy of his being in power will be the destruction of the NHS. For example, when he was famously offered a choice by Cameron between dropping ‘reform’ of the NHS and House of Lords – he chose the latter.
But as important as I think the NHS is, I disagree. As hard as it might be – there’s a good chance the reforms can be reversed in the future – even if it takes years.
But he’s already left us with one destructive legacy which will take even longer to repair – generations possibly – if ever.
I’m talking about his misuse of one little word.
Pledge.
But how can his playing fast and loose with a pledge over tuition fees be worse than the destruction of the NHS?
Well think about it.
It’s 2015. Election time:
Politician: We will reverse the changes to the NHS if we win power.
Voter: How do I know you’re not just saying that to win my vote?
Politician: Fair enough. I promise to reverse the changes.
Voter: (laughing) Promise? We all know politicians will promise anything to win an election.
Politician: No – this time we mean it. We really will reverse the changes.
Voter: Prove it.
Politician: OK. I’ll pledge it. In writing.
Voter: (smirking) What – like Clegg’s written pledge not to raise tuition fees?
Politician: Oh yes. OK. Well let me put it another way then. I’ll ….. erm ….. hang on. Shit. I can’t think of any word I can use which would persuade you I really will do it if I win the election.
Voter: There you are. You’re all the same, aren’t you? Just like Clegg.
Politician: Erm …. what if I write the pledge in my own blood? Will that do?
So there you have it. Clegg has stolen the last word we had which could guarantee that our elected representatives will keep their election promises. From now on – there’s no way they can prove to us they’ll keep their word – and the concrete effect on us all will be that they won’t have to.
Clegg’s legacy of his time in power is no less than the final and complete breakdown of trust between the electorate and politicians – something so damaging our children’s children will still be finding it hard to dispel many, many years from now.
Unless, or course, we quickly invent a new word our politicians will have to stick to.
How about ‘castripulation’ for example:
castripulation – (noun): an affirmation or promise resulting in castration if broken
to castripulate – (verb intransitive): to stipulate a promise or make a pledge on pain of castration
I doubt Clegg would have broken a castripulation not to raise tuition fees.
Do you?
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Related articles by Tom Pride on this subject:
War is Peace. Freedom is Slavery. Fewer Affordable Homes is More Affordable Homes.
Lib Dems must stand behind Nick Clegg and use him as a human shitwall urges Paddy Ashdown
Sheffield man left with nothing after falling victim to Westminster conmen
ASK NICK! Advice From Our Resident Agony Aunt – Nick Clegg
Liverpool FC owners cool interest in Nick Clegg
Despite his lack of relevance, Nick Clegg is likely to have attended sensitive meetings, No 10 admits
Lib Dems Hail ‘Sensational Victory’ In Bradford West By-Election
Liberal Democrats Threaten To Become Very Cross Over EU Veto
Nick Clegg announces £126m scheme to encourage employers to take on unemployed Lib Dem politicians after next election
Lib’ Dem’s Win Major Concessions From Tories Over NHS Bill Punctuation
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Please feel free to comment – you don’t need to register and I’m extremely minimal with the moderating – so please go ahead.
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Robert Ellard said:
Very true, very thoughtful piece. Thank you.
I do smile when I think it was Theresa May who coined the term Nasty Party, that was a huge own goal. 🙂
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Tom Pride said:
Blimey Robert – you’re right. I’d forgotten about that. I’ve added a link.
By the way, I wonder where the ‘loony’ label which damaged Labour for so long came from. I’ve a feeling it may have had something to do with one of Murdoch’s rags.
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Tim Nuttall said:
The only problem I can see with castripulation is that, in Clegg’s case, it has already occurred..
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Tom Pride said:
Oh yes. I think you’ve found a serious flaw in my solution.
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harrymonmouth said:
But Nick Clegg didn’t win the election. To say he did changes the meaning of the word win. If anything Nick Clegg lost this election even more than the liberals have lost any election in the last 80 years.
He has no power and no respect, and he has destroyed any hope the Libdems have of gaining anywhere near the support that they did in the last election for decades to come.
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The Infamous Culex said:
Another meaning of the word “pledge” is, of course, an item of value left with a pawnbroker as collateral for a loan.
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Drew said:
I think Nick Clegg has already been politically castrated along with the reputation of his entire party. Some credible Lib-Dem MP’s have already begun to re-brand themselves and form a splinter group to distance themselves from the Monumental Lib-Dem sell out. To get so close to power and influence and then totally screw it up as they have, has cut them off from their roots…
Soon the Lib-Dems will begin to wither and die a slow, ignominious death….
Where that leaves Democracy and the rest of us, is too tough to call.
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hindle-a said:
If memory serves me right it became utilised during the mid 1980’s ,with as you say the Sun leading the way and particular used to describe Livingstone at the GLC and local councils and particular chosen “representatives”
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Bobbyboy said:
Of course they could use the word “testify” in it original form meaning that they will lose their balls if they are lying. Problem is , Clegg ,by his rolling over to have his tummy tickled by Cameron, does,nt have any balls….
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afteratos said:
The reversal of the NHS is not possible, and shows distinct lack of experience or knowledge of the NHS culture, structue and clashes within. As Bevan had to stuff the doctors mouths with gold to get a national health service for all, many in the NHS in top jobs being paid by the majority of hard working low paid taxes and subscriptions actually despise the working class and are as elitist and class and social conscious as the rest. There is also the structure and management and the working of cross discipline ethics and management and policy and approach. I am afraid many people who talk and plan about the NHS work on the romance and not the real fact. and the NHS has not been healthy for ages, from one subsequent govt to the next. Will take a damn more than wishful thinking to think professionals, medics, doctors and nurses automatically love and are loyal to the NHS or its principles or its populace. And as high ranking professionals have interests and businesses and stocks and shares in private heath and care companies do not expect a sudden shift soon.
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Pat Farrington said:
Excellent Tom Pride! You are certainly on the ball and I appreciate your perseverance and wit. Another word that’s een destroyed is “quality”> We used to have good quality and bad quality but now there is only “quality” meaning good stuff. Shame really!
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Pat Farrington said:
I’m with you on that! B’strd has no flippin’ balls and the sooner we get him out the better!
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Pat Farrington said:
Such a worry! I agree that all the changes will be impossible to reverse due to greed and also cost…financial as well as in patient care. Just been with husband to A&E in Vancouver. I was asked to promise $850 before he could even see a doctor…then there were x-rays, ECG, blood tests and 7 hours in a bed….god knows what the final bill will be…this is what’s to come in the UK I fear. Also, I hope the insurance crowd here will cough up…who knows?
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Alun Parsons said:
Anything that can be done, can also be undone.
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Alun Parsons said:
Canada has free universal healthcare.
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jaynel62 said:
Excellent as always
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Pam Field @earwiggle said:
Another word of the past: Integrity: Which politician has it, I wonder?
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Pam Field @earwiggle said:
Canada: Also Universal National Education System – true comprehensive education.
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bookiewookie said:
But you can’t castripulate someone lacking the basic equipment in the first place, so Clegg would be safe anyway, wouldn’t he?
On a more serious note, I cannot understand why pledges, written or otherwise, are not subject to contract law like any other transaction! It’s a simple enough premise after all, a vote in exchange for a service to be rendered, so why are electoral pledges not binding?
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Editor said:
Reblogged this on kickingthecat.
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jeffrey davies (@jeffrey33333) said:
afteratos says it all nhs gone and will not be put back together anytime soon broken by the idiots who love bankers who screw us daily for their mistakes ops jeff3
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gogwit said:
Reblogged this on Gogwit's Blog and commented:
Semantics.
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adeybob said:
Why do we pay our politicians? They don’t perform to requirements.
They should have to live within the same means as the lowest-paid member of society.
They should only be able to pick up the bulk of their pay at least 10 years after their tenure has finished; and this only after the effects of their policies have been analyzed.
If we had done this 50 years ago, imagine the bad that could have been prevented.
The big question is: why is this suggestion considered crazy?
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