Metaphorically Speaking

From the Greek for "to transfer", metaphors give concepts physical feelings, make communication more effective and embellish our language. A recent Wall Street Journal article focused on the torrent of metaphors spouting forth from  politicians describing the nation's financial dilemma. 

"Bail Out", "Perfect Storm", "unclog those financial arteries", "Little Orphan Annie propping up Daddy Warbucks"...it's almost impossible to read anything about the issue without stumbling over this figure of speech. 

But then politicians are mavens of the metaphor. Pork barrel, sunset clause, dark horse, muckraking, grassroots, lame duck, and many more phrases have sprung from the political arena. Prior to the age of electronic transmissions, most speeches were crafted for the print medium. While a rabble-rousing orator could bring a crowd to a frenzy, that frenzy only affected those within earshot. The introduction of radio and later television shifted focus from the written to the spoken word; giving birth to the sound bite.  The metaphor proved itself ruler of whatever medium was thrown its way. 

However, today's instant access culture has tarnished the poetic lilt of the political metaphor. So we have "lipstick on a pig" as opposed to "the better angels of our nature". as ever - BB

"Under democracy one party devotes its chief energies to trying to prove that the other party is unfit to rule - and both commonly succeed, and are right." - H.L. Mencken