"surge" vs "escelation"

[Kire]

Conservatives want to call the increase of troops a "surge," making it sound positive. Democrats want to call it an "escelation," making it negative, or moreso taking the impact away from the action. Surge has 1 syllable, and escelation has 4. Democrats should have learned by now that they should've used a word with as few syllables as possible for the most impact. Remember, Republicans changed peoples minds by changing the name of the "inheritance" tax into the "death" tax.

On the other hand, perhaps the strategy of adding syllables to take the impact out of the "surge" is to not paint it as overly dramatic, which pretty much is the problem with Democratic politics...too long winded and...well, too much explenation for impatient Americans. People want their answers in one sentence, not 3 paragraphs. That's why Dubbya is President. That's why a lot of people here never take the time to read Terr's posts.

Word games in politics amuse me. Keep a lookout for the rhetoric that is used in future political issues.

[Nixon]

Re: "surge" vs "escelation"

They should just equate it all to money, which is one of the few things all americans care about and/or comprehend. For example, they could replace the word "troops" with the words "money" or "your money" and people might finally understand what's going on.

Ex: "There will be a surge/escalation of your money being sent to Iraq." Ex: "Bush wants more of your money to be sent to Iraq."

[Garr123]

Re: "surge" vs "escelation"

That's actually brilliant.

I nominate Nix for something.

[Chad]

Re: "surge" vs "escelation"

Estate tax.

[The Toecutter]

Re: "surge" vs "escelation"

If they were smart, they would say that the number of soldiers in Iraq is going to 'swell'. One syllable, negative connotation.

[Wavelength]

Re: "surge" vs "escelation"

That's been going on forever, as you probably know. Remember when "war fatigue" was called "shell shocked"? Remember when "ballistic aperatures" were called "gunshot wounds"? And of course the inheritance tax became the death tax (to make the hundred and fifty million or so idiots in America think 'OMG! U can't tax me 4 dying!!') when the 'Pubs wanted to get rid of it, and now that the Dems got back into control, it's being called the almost-as-deceptive Estate Tax. Don't even get me started on the bull**** that is the 'Patriot Act.'

As a marketing major, I can at least appreciate it a little. All the same, I really wish they'd just call a spade a spade and move on to serious dialogue that would actually provide value to the American people.

[The Toecutter]

Re: "surge" vs "escelation"

As a marketing major, I can at least appreciate it a little. All the same, I really wish they'd just call a spade a spade and move on to serious dialogue that would actually provide value to the American people.

If both parties started doing that for once, they'd have to admit that they're both committing acts of treasson right in front of us. This war is not constitutional.