William Safire died a while back and the Economist Obituary recorded some of his lexicographical tidbits that I have taken liberty with. He analyzed nabobs, nattering and negativism but didn't include nitpicking. Certainly in politics at the Federal level in Canada today, the opposition, all three of them, are guilty of a certain degree of these elements. I don't think the present government is any less guilty when it was in opposition. In fact all levels of government are guilty of this and the media thrives as a result of all of it. Gloating is good ; schadenfreude is splendid.
When you are in the business of government or opposition of whatever stripe, it is so easy to fall into the habit of the four N's. Both the media and the partisans promote them!
What if, wonder of wonders, electability were put on the back burner for a period of time in order that the public good may be served by genuine collaborative action on their part. Many have forgotten the true definition of the adjective, "politic". Sometimes we should trash the noun "politics" , for the adjective. Unfortunately the voting public has been robbed by the hyperbole of the nattering nabobs of nitpicking negativism and joined them. What the Hell !
When you are in the business of government or opposition of whatever stripe, it is so easy to fall into the habit of the four N's. Both the media and the partisans promote them!
What if, wonder of wonders, electability were put on the back burner for a period of time in order that the public good may be served by genuine collaborative action on their part. Many have forgotten the true definition of the adjective, "politic". Sometimes we should trash the noun "politics" , for the adjective. Unfortunately the voting public has been robbed by the hyperbole of the nattering nabobs of nitpicking negativism and joined them. What the Hell !
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