Government-Media Newspeak Synonym for 'Stimulus': 'Growth'
Here's an indication of just how discredited the word "stimulus" is becoming: European leaders today agreed on a $163 "growth package" of some kind. The leaders were apparently very reluctant to describe it.
At a Los Angeles Times blog this morning, Sarah Delaney's coverage mostly bought into what appears to be a charade, but the headline writer at the paper's home page didn't get the memo.
Here it is, with the dreaded S-word slipping into the sub-head:
Oops.
Delaney's only "slip-up" in using "stimulus" instead of "growth" served the convenient purpose of making Angela Merkel look bad, but in the process gave away the new game (bolds are mine):
4 top European leaders back $163-billion growth package
Leaders of the four major Eurozone countries agreed Friday to push for a $163-billion growth package, a week before a planned European summit considered crucial to the future of the monetary union.
Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, newly elected French President Francois Hollande and Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy also concurred on the necessity of greater integration between the countries that have joined in the euro, a process Monti called “irreversible.”
Monti, the host of the gathering in Rome focused on the economic crisis of the Eurozone countries, said at a news conference following the meeting that “the primary objective on which we concur is for the promotion of growth and investment and the creation of new jobs in Europe.”
The leaders offered no immediate details on what the growth package might include.
Merkel, who has steadfastly advocated fiscal responsibility and austerity measures ahead of stimulus spending, said the emphasis in handling the crisis had been on “budget consolidation” but that it was now the moment for measures in favor of growth and jobs.
In other words, if we're to believe what Ms. Delaney has written (a big if), Merkel has caved on opening the government spending spigots.
In the process, we've also seen two confirmations (in the front-page headline and Delaney's text) that in establishment press Newspeak, "stimulus" is now a synonym for "growth."
Cross-posted at BizzyBlog.com.
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Comments
Sure, why not?
Submitted by CO2Maker on Fri, 06/22/2012 - 10:42pm.
Here in the US, the stimulus packages grew the deficit.
Another word whose root meaning is "grow" is "create." So that the stimulus act grew the deficit as it saved or created some jobs.
What other stimuli are growthful? How about a stimulating conversation, which grows your masseters?
stimulus ? create ?
Submitted by hughgerald on Fri, 06/22/2012 - 11:09pm.
Stimulus
noun ( pl. stimuli |-ˌlī| )
a thing or event that evokes a specific functional reaction in an organ or tissue: areas of the brain which respond to auditory stimuli.
• a thing that rouses activity or energy in someone or something; a spur or incentive: if the tax were abolished, it would act as a stimulus to exports.
• an interesting and exciting quality: she loved the stimulus of the job.
"Oxford dictionary"
The stimuli the world seeks is free rides and easily attained "what I want" forever. My happiness has never been extreme wealth or power. Ideal leaders don't have to demand people's obedience. Our world is decaying because of libertine madness without responsibility for the end result. In other words," It's Bush's fault that I screwed up this golden opportunity".
The one human characteristic I've noticed in today's turmoil is that of a juvenile delinquent child, not wise mature adults.
Nonetheless I still know a source of comfort, happiness that has never left my id through many, many trials. My desire is to share with anyone willing to listen that wonderful source. Giving has always been in my being. My prayer has always been "Lord may I have enough to be able to give and the wisdom to know who to help". He's always honored this prayer.
Creation is God's realm.
Stimulus is only a shot in one's arm for temporary relief.
Kings
Submitted by sngnsgt on Sun, 06/24/2012 - 10:02am.
The LA Kings won the Stanley cup at the Staples Center, not the Solindra center. Staples was backed by Bain Capital. Solindra was Obama's debacle. You figure out what was a good deal and what was a flop. Should be easy, even for liberals.