Just Finished Reading: Enough Said – What’s Gone Wrong with the Language of Politics by Mark Thompson (FP: 2016)

I think it’s hard to argue against the fact that something is very wrong with the language of politics and politics itself today. With the ever present rise in Populism across the West as well as the ever plummeting trust in political leaders it is easy to become both cynical and despondent about the whole process. More often than not (and I largely agree with the author here) that is because of the language used – the political rhetoric – of politicians themselves as well as the journalists who report them. But this has not always been so nor need it continue (or if possible get worse).

Despite its poor reputation the skill of rhetoric has long been taught to and prized by those interested in political office. Part of the decline in the language of politics can be traced to the long decline in education in this skill – not just in the ‘political classes’ and journalists but also in the public itself. To be fully engaged in the political process of a nation a politically educated citizenry, an electorate, should be able to analyse a political utterance to understand what is being said and, more importantly, what is being left unsaid. Rhetoric is designed to sell a point of view and it is up to an educated voter to be able to discern if they are being sold something they actually wish to buy. But it is easy to portray all politicians as liars. Their political opponents certainly do – either directly or indirectly. When no argument is debated on its merits and where all facts are held up as nothing of the sort it should be expected that the voters either turn away in disgust or become hopelessly confused.

It is not surprising – all across the West – that Civility is becoming a faded memory. It is not enough that an opponent’s arguments are disputed they must, in full public view, be destroyed and the proponent themselves ridiculed and called out for being a fool or worse. Today, on both Right and Left, there is little room and even less appetite for compromise (and increasingly ‘dirty’ word) on any issue big or small. All beliefs strongly held are fundamental beliefs and any discussion, or even the possibility of debate, is viewed as practically heretical. If things can be admitted to be up for debate than one side or the other can be proven to be wrong (or at least weak) giving room for the other side to win. This is, it seems, literally unthinkable – never mind publically admissible.

That, the author rightly points out, is the fundamental problem today. We have lost our civility and, partially because of that fact, we are becoming increasingly uncivilized. With a widespread bunker mentality and a winner takes all philosophy we can only find ourselves in a war of political attrition where no side can ever claim ultimate victory without creating a desert and calling it some kind of peace. We all, politicians, journalists and members of the public need to understand political language, use it appropriately and call out those who abuse rhetoric to hide the facts, misdirect attention and try to still up populist sentiment to gain power. This book is a valuable contribution to that turn away from the political wilderness we seem to be heading towards. Knowing how our politicians and news outlets seek to manipulate us with the spoken and written word is a good start and this book is a good launch point if you want to be well armed or well defended in the political fights to follow. Recommended.