The Devil's Dictionary: Birmingham Edition

[steepholm]

Bloated public sector [adj.]: a term justifying the dismissal of nurses, teachers, policemen, soldiers, careworkers, etc., while implying that only high-paid civil servants are in danger.

Clobber [verb]: the effect of proposed taxes on the extremely wealthy. Usage note: This verb is not applicable to lower income groups. When they have their wages cut or their benefits removed, they are merely being stripped of an unfair advantage.

Disproportionate force [noun phrase]: See proportionate force.

Proportionate force [noun phrase]: See disproportionate force.

Rebalance the economy [verb phrase]: a) to achieve a better balance of payments; b) to reduce the dominance of the financial services sector and increase manufacturing; c) to cut wages and make public sector workers redundant. Usage note: In practice this phrase is now generally used to mean c), but it retains the virtuous associations of a) and b).

The Editors are always grateful for new definitions..

Comments

[http://users.livejournal.com/la_marquise_de_/]

We're all in this together: a) statement of solidarity, meant to reassure and hearten the plebs the electorate; b) statement of solidarity, meant to reassure the rich that we have their backs; c) empty sound-bite, meant to make the speaker look like he gives a damn.

[calimac.livejournal.com]

We're all in this together: You paddle, we'll ride.

[cmcmck.livejournal.com]

We need to tighten our belts: You need to tighten your belts.

Benefit scroungers: anyone old, disabled, ill or unable to fight the system.

Privileged (a): Umm........moi?

Immigrant (n): I know! Let's blame the foreigners for all the problems.

[maellenkleth]

well, thou and I may well be amongst the nomenklatura these days, which is not at all the same thing as being amongst the blatnoi toffs.

[puddleshark.livejournal.com]

The greenest government ever: some of the cabinet have sinusitis.

[steepholm.livejournal.com]

*laughing through my sniffles*