Decay of Language Relates to Political Chaos

Using euphemisms and misusing language and meaning can lead politicians to destroy rational thinking and decision making. Language is a very powerful tool in the world of politics, that helps people decide who they vote for. Most of the voting population, watch the news and debates to help them decide. They feel that the candidates will give them all the information they need to vote. They also feel that when they vote, it is all their own decision.

Voting for a certain person, may lead to consequences. When we look at the majority of our population, we can see that it buys what the politicians are selling them. These politicians use euphemisms in politics to hide reality, and make harsh ideas seem less gruesome. Euphemisms are used to guide the viewers to adapt their beliefs and values. George Orwell wrote, "Political language.... is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable, and to give an appearance of solidity to pure wind." For example, instead of saying 'riot', where many people are killed, the word 'tragedy' would be used. He also states that, "If you simplify your English, you are freed from the worst follies of orthodoxy. ...when you make a stupid remark its stupidity will be obvious, even to yourself." Politicians do not use simplified English because using simple words will let the listeners and viewers catch on to the political lies immediately. They will use complicated and meaningless words to make them sound reliable and trustworthy, but also to blur what they are saying. They will often use phrases and sentences that most of the population don't understand completely and then the people will decide who to vote for themselves. However, even though we think that we decide who we vote, it is the candidates that choose for us.

There are many phrases in the world of politics that are used to win over the voters. Such jargon demolishes reasonable thinking and the decision making abilities of the people. For example, phrases such as, 'I want to protect our country' and 'I'm the candidate of hope', are used frequently during elections. These phrases are so familiar and sound good that people don't even have to think twice about what the candidate actually means. This way, the candidate will lead people into thinking that their leader wants what is good for everyone, and he/she will attend to their problems. However, in reality, leaders may manipulate people to adapt to his/ her values and then make them believe that it is their own thinking. So, using these