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As we all know, language is very powerful and one example is the use or misuse of the word "reform."
One of the definitions of the word and the pertinent one for this argument is "Reform: to improve, as by alteration, correction of error, abolition of abuses and malpractices." All of these worthy aims are a matter of opinion, a subjective matter; all change is not necessarily for the better and given the unintended consequences of most government policy they must surely be challenged at every opportunity.
Governments of course always use the word "reform" when recommending their policies/proposals to the people/Parliament and why wouldn't they? They presumably believe (rightly or wrongly) that their actions are set to make things better. Why is it then that Oppositions use the same word when arguing against these proposed changes and why is it that the Press in their scrutiny of the proposals always speak of them as the Government's reforms even when they have just spent column inches pulling them apart? I contend that both Oppositions and the Press end up colluding with the Government by using this word. Improvement is the principal connotation of the word and using it when arguing against the proposals, in the minds of the listeners, weakens the contrary argument.
In the same vein I would like to see Government, Oppositions and the Press refrain ( voluntarily of course) from using the word "resources" unless they are talking about stuff in the ground or the skills of people and not as a euphemistic disguise of the phrase, "tax payers' money." Governments only have capacity to spend money that they either raise by tax or by borrowing and that borrowing both in terms of interest and capital is again paid for by taxpayers. I think if Governments particularly (and others)always substituted "tax payers' money" when they are tempted to use the word "resources" they would start to alter what they actually do say( and maybe what they actually do) and we might start, just start, to see an improvement of candour and honesty.
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I think that any improvement/reform on honesty and actually caring for people from government would be great. How about a reform of what our money is spent on before, during, and after elections. Also, since you've mentioned the governments using 'tax-payers' money, I think they should spend it more on helping us Aussies, and less borrowing of money from one country to give it to another country. It's nice to help out sometimes but come on, you have to help yourself before you can help others, especially when our problems are much worse in many cases.
ReplyDeleteAs a tax-payer and simply as an Australian Citizen, I don't know that much about how the government works and maybe that's why I have very little faith in any government body making good decisions for me and my family's future. The way I see it, once you're in government with great ideas, you either play along with what the other higher up government people want you to do or you're out. Is there no way to win? Another thing is that government always seem to give in to big business because 'it brings in heaps of money and jobs will be made'. Oh, I'm going on and on now. Good post Jonathan.