L.A. Liberty

Draconian

dra•co•ni•an |drəˈkōnēən; drā-|

adjective

(of laws or their application) excessively harsh and severe.

Excessively harsh or severe.

Every time you hear someone use the word draconian, it’s safe to assume he is blowing smoke up your ass.

Even if I were to concede that the cutting of “social programs” by returning coerced money back to the individuals who earned it was somehow negative, for it to be harsh or severe it should be more than, say, 50% (especially since that only means returning to the spending levels of five years ago) . Single-digit percentage cuts on increases - which do not actually amount to cuts in net - are about as excessively harsh or severe as a back rub. If the tiny “cuts” that are being floated about are considered draconian, then what could possibly be considered mild?

Same goes for the word austerity - there’s nothing austere about minor trims that typically amount to phony cuts through rounding errors and accounting gimmicks.

Orwellian hyperbole abounds.

Posted July 16, 2011 at 11:01am in debt ceiling debt ∆ | comments || home