Do Words Matter?
by Miki Saxon
Have you ever take a step backwards from the point you are adamantly arguing and looked objectively at the end results of the two positions?
Ask the true believers of any question and they will assure you that the end result of their approach is vastly different from that of their verbal/ideological/actual opponent.
But is it really different?
Consider, for example, Malcolm Berko’s acerbic explanation of capitalism and socialism.
In a capitalist society, man exploits man, whereas in a socialist society, it’s the other way around.
Basically, the difference between the two is just a matter of degree. Russian politicians, with the approval of the government, rip off state-owned businesses and become millionaires or billionaires. In the process, the Russian citizen gets screwed.
In the U.S., JPMorgan Chase, Enron, Countrywide Financial, the United Auto Workers, the Teamsters, MCI WorldCom, Goldman Sachs and Bank of America rip off the consumer, and in the process, the politicians become wealthy and the American public gets screwed.
In actuality, the same actions yield the same results; only the terms used have changed.
But try telling that to someone who is passionately for or against.
Words equal spin and spin can suck you in; a good thing to remember considering everything going on, not to mention the upcoming elections.
Flickr image credit: moonrat42
