Phrases you want to see retired

[Mint]

I know we've had this discussion before but I don't feel like necromancing.

I'll start:

"Smaller government, family values, and a strong national defense"

[Marokai Backbeat]

"The American people" "The will of the people" "The people sent a clear message".

I cringe when I hear any variant of that from the left or right for some reason. I don't like hearing anyone speak on behalf of "the people" like that, the people never actually know what they want, why should we listen to some of these idiots anyway, and politicians don't actually care about the "will of the people" anyway, especially the right.

[Ban my account ffs!]

"It's time to turn the ship around."

[Ban my account ffs!]

or

"God got me elected."

Sorry, but God had nothing to do with it.  And if he did, I highly doubt any candidates in the running would've been elected.

[Vepres]

"They're voting against their interests"
"We are doing x to protect US interests"
"Healthcare is a right, not a privilege"

[Vepres]

I don't like hearing anyone speak on behalf of "the people" like that, the people never actually know what they want, why should we listen to some of these idiots anyway, and politicians don't actually care about the "will of the people" anyway, especially the right.

Right... we'd be much much better off with an oligarchy of unaccountable rulers.

[Mint]

"Healthcare is a right, not a privilege"

I'm also tired of the way the debate is framed on that and I'm very pro Universal Healthcare, since it implies any kind of rationing is unacceptable as opposed to a necessary evil. And that's obviously not been productive. Plus it moves the discussion to largely irrelevant theoretical concepts/philosophical differences as opposed to practical concerns like long term costs or benefits to business.

[Marokai Backbeat]

I don't like hearing anyone speak on behalf of "the people" like that, the people never actually know what they want, why should we listen to some of these idiots anyway, and politicians don't actually care about the "will of the people" anyway, especially the right.

Right... we'd be much much better off with an oligarchy of unaccountable rulers.

"Democracy is the worst form of government except for all those others that have been tried."

[k-onmmunist]

Anything with the word 'change' in.

Also: 'We're all in this together now'

[The Mikado]

Reagan Democrats, outside of a historical context.

[Хahar 🤔]

"Healthcare is a right, not a privilege"

I understand that you think healthcare is a privilege, but don't assume that other people are similarly unfeeling.

[Alcon]

Reagan Democrats, outside of a historical context.

I've always appreciated how one can make a pretty solid map of where the media thinks "Reagan Democrats" are by taking the 1984 Presidential map, and taking all of the majority-white Mondale counties.  I'll second this.

[feeblepizza]

Obama Republican. Or is it already retired?

[Ban my account ffs!]

"Healthcare is a right, not a privilege"

I understand that you think healthcare is a privilege, but don't assume that other people are similarly unfeeling.

Thank you for saying that.

I believe that use of the term "we the people" should be retired.  Especially when used in the place of the more appropriate "me."

But then when "we the people" is invoked, it usually indicates exactly the opposite:  A loud minority who wants to rule "we the people".

[Hash]

"the American/Canadian/French people"
"working families"
"small government"
"fiscal responsibility"
"family values"
"a stronger America/Canada"
"leadership matters"
"change"
"action over politics"
"the end of politics as usual"
"I'm a businessman with business values, not a politician"

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

"Healthcare is a right, not a privilege"

I understand that you think healthcare is a privilege, but don't assume that other people are similarly unfeeling.

The objection I have with that phrase is that healthcare, like most so-called "positive rights", is not a right.  Maybe you think forcing people to provide healthcare at government dictated prices is a "right", or maybe you live in a fanatasyland where the government can spend all it wants without any consequences, but I don't think that and I don't live in such a place.  That isn't to say there isn't a role for government in our healthcare system, but to call it a right is just plain wrong, or at least a devaluation of what the word "right" means.  A right is a fundamental liberty that the government can guarantee by not doing anything that violates that liberty and by seeing to it that private actors don't undertake actions that violate such liberties either.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Well, that's one conception of rights. But hardly one universally accepted, nor one mandated by the structure of the language (and, I think, of all Germanic languages). It is my right to assert that healthcare is a right because that is right. Cheap, I know.

[The Mikado]

Honestly, Global War on Terror has been mostly dealt with already, but it should be retired anyway.  It's the War in Afghanistan/Pakistan and the (thankfully fading) War in Iraq.  Two different conflicts.

[Vepres]

"Healthcare is a right, not a privilege"

I understand that you think healthcare is a privilege, but don't assume that other people are similarly unfeeling.

There's no such thing as a positive right.

[Vepres]

"Healthcare is a right, not a privilege"

I understand that you think healthcare is a privilege, but don't assume that other people are similarly unfeeling.

The objection I have with that phrase is that healthcare, like most so-called "positive rights", is not a right.  Maybe you think forcing people to provide healthcare at government dictated prices is a "right", or maybe you live in a fanatasyland where the government can spend all it wants without any consequences, but I don't think that and I don't live in such a place.  That isn't to say there isn't a role for government in our healthcare system, but to call it a right is just plain wrong, or at least a devaluation of what the word "right" means.  A right is a fundamental liberty that the government can guarantee by not doing anything that violates that liberty and by seeing to it that private actors don't undertake actions that violate such liberties either.

Put it much better than I could

[Antonio the Sixth]

"Big/small government"

Just dreamin' of course.

[Free Palestine]

I despise the words gubernatorial and veep.  Beyond politics, I also dislike the word husband.

As for phrases, I'd like to see every silly idiom disappear from common usage.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

REAGAN DEMOCRAT HELL YES! Dumbest term ever.

Also the "-gate" suffix for scandals.

[J. J.]

Emo.

Deluge stays around until 2017, at the earliest.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

REAGAN DEMOCRAT HELL YES! Dumbest term ever.

Also the "-gate" suffix for scandals.

Yes. Those. I especially love references to the 'Reagan Democrats' of Western Pennsylvania.