All this is going to do is sully the word "family"...

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All this is going to do is sully the word "family"...

Post by Coito ergo sum » Thu Sep 01, 2011 2:54 pm

Don’t think of it as the federal government but as your “federal family.”

In a Category 4 torrent of official communications during the approach and aftermath of Hurricane Irene, the Federal Emergency Management Agency has repeatedly used the phrase “federal family” when describing the Obama administration’s response to the storm.

The Obama administration didn’t invent the phrase but has taken it to new heights.

“Under the direction of President Obama and Secretary Janet Napolitano, the entire federal family is leaning forward to support our state, tribal and territorial partners along the East Coast,” a FEMA news release declared Friday as Irene churned toward landfall.

The G-word — “government” — has been nearly banished, with FEMA instead referring to federal, state and local “partners” as well as “offices” and “personnel.”

“'Government’ is such a dirty word right now,” says Florida State University communication professor Davis Houck. “Part of what the federal government does and any elected official does is change the terms of the language game into terms that are favorable to them.”

“Family” can evoke favorable thoughts of motherhood and security. But it can also conjure images of Big Brother and organized crime.

The phrase “federal family” has been used in connection with FEMA at least as far back as 1999.
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/storm/fema ... 08751.html



The government ought not continue down this road. If they do, soon the word "family" with have the same negative baggage that they're claiming "government" has now.... people will think of "family" as an oppressive, overly-intrusive entity which is excessively expensive.... :biggrin:

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Re: All this is going to do is sully the word "family"...

Post by Ian » Thu Sep 01, 2011 2:58 pm

"Family" can already be used to invoke some negative ideas.

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Re: All this is going to do is sully the word "family"...

Post by Coito ergo sum » Thu Sep 01, 2011 4:49 pm

Only...everyone roots for "the Family" when watching The Godfather....Americans are cool with rooting for bad guys, as long as the bad guys only do bad things to other bad guys, and they have to take care of their wives and children and have some sort of code of honor. If those factors exist, we'll root for almost anyone.

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Re: All this is going to do is sully the word "family"...

Post by Ian » Thu Sep 01, 2011 4:57 pm

I don't equate the government with "the bad guys".

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Re: All this is going to do is sully the word "family"...

Post by Xamonas Chegwé » Thu Sep 01, 2011 5:05 pm

Then there's that other family, Charlie Manson and his chums. Oh the positive connotations are endless... :sigh:
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Re: All this is going to do is sully the word "family"...

Post by Feck » Thu Sep 01, 2011 5:10 pm

The family was fucked even before Palin started supporting it .
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Re: All this is going to do is sully the word "family"...

Post by Gawdzilla Sama » Thu Sep 01, 2011 5:32 pm

Not seeing a problem.

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Re: All this is going to do is sully the word "family"...

Post by Xamonas Chegwé » Thu Sep 01, 2011 5:44 pm

Of course, the adjective "dysfunctional" fits snugly alongside the noun "family" - I am sure that Glen Beck and his pals are already working that one into their rants. :tea:
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Re: All this is going to do is sully the word "family"...

Post by Coito ergo sum » Thu Sep 01, 2011 5:45 pm

Ian » wrote:I don't equate the government with "the bad guys".
I think a lot of people equate "government" with unnecessary red tape, incompetence, oppressive bureaucracy and the like. Think of the movie "Brazil." [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWbIxFKt ... re=related[/youtube]
Last edited by Coito ergo sum on Thu Sep 01, 2011 6:00 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Re: All this is going to do is sully the word "family"...

Post by Ian » Thu Sep 01, 2011 5:53 pm

Coito ergo sum » wrote:
Ian » wrote:I don't equate the government with "the bad guys".
I think a lot of people equate "government" with unnecessary red tape, incompetence, oppressive bureaucracy and the like. Think of the movie "Brazil."
Never seen it.

A lot of people equate "religion" with benevolence, wisdom, moral leadership and the like. Are they right?

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Re: All this is going to do is sully the word "family"...

Post by Coito ergo sum » Thu Sep 01, 2011 6:01 pm

Ian » wrote:
Coito ergo sum » wrote:
Ian » wrote:I don't equate the government with "the bad guys".
I think a lot of people equate "government" with unnecessary red tape, incompetence, oppressive bureaucracy and the like. Think of the movie "Brazil."
Never seen it.

A lot of people equate "religion" with benevolence, wisdom, moral leadership and the like. Are they right?
No, but people who equate "government" with unnecessary red tape, incompetence, and oppressive bureaucracy tend to be right.

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Re: All this is going to do is sully the word "family"...

Post by Ian » Thu Sep 01, 2011 6:04 pm

Coito ergo sum » wrote:
Ian » wrote:
Coito ergo sum » wrote:
Ian » wrote:I don't equate the government with "the bad guys".
I think a lot of people equate "government" with unnecessary red tape, incompetence, oppressive bureaucracy and the like. Think of the movie "Brazil."
Never seen it.

A lot of people equate "religion" with benevolence, wisdom, moral leadership and the like. Are they right?
No, but people who equate "government" with unnecessary red tape, incompetence, and oppressive bureaucracy tend to be right.
No, but those of us who equate those people with ignorance tend to be right.

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Re: All this is going to do is sully the word "family"...

Post by Audley Strange » Thu Sep 01, 2011 6:08 pm

Perhaps if they rebranded themselves "Federal Psychopathic Tyrants" and did a few more Wacos amongst the whackos, then they would at least fit the ludicrous rhetoric targeted against them
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Re: All this is going to do is sully the word "family"...

Post by Coito ergo sum » Thu Sep 01, 2011 6:08 pm

Ian » wrote:
Coito ergo sum » wrote:
Ian » wrote:
Coito ergo sum » wrote:
Ian » wrote:I don't equate the government with "the bad guys".
I think a lot of people equate "government" with unnecessary red tape, incompetence, oppressive bureaucracy and the like. Think of the movie "Brazil."
Never seen it.

A lot of people equate "religion" with benevolence, wisdom, moral leadership and the like. Are they right?
No, but people who equate "government" with unnecessary red tape, incompetence, and oppressive bureaucracy tend to be right.
No, but those of us who equate those people with ignorance tend to be right.
LOLz - right, because "government" is synonymous with "easy to deal with," "reasonable" and "highly competent,".....like the Division of Motor Vehicles, the IRS, and Medicare/Medicaid....and man, those folks at SSI, they have no red tape at all! And, the people you talk to all these agencies are always polite, helpful, and ever-willing to help in a time of need...unless that time is 4:55pm, in which case, it can wait until tomorrow. :biggrin:

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Re: All this is going to do is sully the word "family"...

Post by Ian » Thu Sep 01, 2011 6:13 pm

Coito ergo sum wrote:LOLz - right, because "government" is synonymous with "easy to deal with," "reasonable" and "highly competent,".....like the Division of Motor Vehicles, the IRS, and Medicare/Medicaid....and man, those folks at SSI, they have no red tape at all! And, the people you talk to all these agencies are always polite, helpful, and ever-willing to help in a time of need...unless that time is 4:55pm, in which case, it can wait until tomorrow. :biggrin:
Your own opinions, presumably based on some people you've dealt with and a willingness to assume such stereotypes apply across the board. The "conventional wisdom of stereotypes" argument = Fail.

I know and have met more competent, dedicated and underpaid government workers than I can count.

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