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May 10, 2020
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“The plan will be a phased plan that we plan to utilize in phases”

A jocular 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic reopening plan has been cited in print since at least April 30, 2020: "We have a 6 phase plan to reopen the state. The plan will be a phased plan that…

November 29, 2020
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“The police asked me if I would take a lie detector. I said yes…” (joke)

"The police asked me if I would take a lie detector. I said yes, Now I have been charged with conspiracy to commit theft" was posted on Twitter by Michael Kulezich on November 29, 2014.…

March 17, 2019
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“The police say they burn all the weed they confiscate. That would explain the doughnuts”

It's a popular meme that police can frequently be seen at donut shops. The donuts they eat are not marijuana donuts, but there are jokes. "The police say they burn the marijuana they…

October 30, 2021
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“The poor pay tax. The middle-class pay accountants. The rich pay politicians”

"Poor people pay taxes, rich people pay accountants, very rich people pay politicians" was posted on Twitter by "I am Ann" on April 29, 2019. There are many variations of this…

March 29, 2019
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“The power of the people is greater than the people in power”

"The power of the people is greater/stronger than the people in power" is a protest saying that has been printed on many images. The saying originated in the Arab Spring in Tunisia and…

March 28, 2019
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“The power of the people is stronger than the people in power”

"The power of the people is greater/stronger than the people in power" is a protest saying that has been printed on many images. The saying originated in the Arab Spring in Tunisia and…

January 22, 2023
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“The power you let government use today is the power they’ll use on you tomorrow”

"THE POWER YOU LET GOVERNMENT USE TODAY IS THE POWER THEY'LL USE ON YOU TOMORROW" (shown on an image) was posted on Twitter by The Anarchist Institute on November 6, 2022. The meme…

May 8, 2020
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“The Powerball Jackpot is now up to a 24 pack of Charmin”

The 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic resulted in panic-buying (and shortages) of toilet paper. "I heard next week's Powerball jackpot is going to be $60million AND a 48 pack of 3ply toilet…

May 28, 2020
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“The problem is not who sits on the throne. The problem is that there is a throne to sit on”

Larken Rose wrote this in his book The Most Dangerous Superstition (2011): "Many have been able to recognize and oppose specific acts of tyranny by specific regimes, but very few have…

December 5, 2014
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“The problem isn’t the abuse of power; it’s the power to abuse”

"The problem is not the abuse of power, it is the power to abuse" was popularized by Libertarian author Michael Cloud. American author and Libertarian Party presidential candidate (in…

April 16, 2024
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“The problem that governments are trying to solve is the existence of your freedom”

"The problem that governments are trying to solve is the existence of your freedom" was posted on X/Twitter by American libertarian writer, publisher and entrepreneur Jeffrey Tucker on…

May 9, 2017
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“The problem with 9/11 jokes is that they never seem to land”

Jokes about the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on New York City's World Trade Center are numerous, although not politically correct. One popular joke was posted on Twitter on September…

September 26, 2022
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“The problem with close-minded people is that their mouth is always open”

"The problem with close(d)-minded people is (that) their mouth is always open" (or "The problem with close(d)-minded people is (that) their mouths are always open") is a saying…

September 24, 2022
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“The problem with close-minded people is that their mouths are always open”

"The problem with close(d)-minded people is (that) their mouth is always open" (or "The problem with close(d)-minded people is (that) their mouths are always open") is a saying…

September 26, 2022
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“The problem with closed-minded people is that their mouth is always open”

"The problem with close(d)-minded people is (that) their mouth is always open" (or "The problem with close(d)-minded people is (that) their mouths are always open") is a saying…

September 26, 2022
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“The problem with closed-minded people is that their mouths are always open”

"The problem with close(d)-minded people is (that) their mouth is always open" (or "The problem with close(d)-minded people is (that) their mouths are always open") is a saying…

September 12, 2022
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“The problem with democracy is that those who need leaders are not qualified to choose them”

"Those who need leaders are not qualified to choose them" is a saying that has been printed on many images. That is, according to the speaker, someone who needs a leader is weak and is…

May 16, 2011
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“The problem with doing nothing is that you never know when you’re finished”

"The problem with doing nothing is that you never know when you're finished" has been credited to Ben Franklin (1706-1790) and Groucho Marx (1890-1977), but there's no evidence…

March 1, 2024
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“The problem with guns is too few people carry one”

Some people believe that America has a gun problem of too many guns, but gun advocates disagree. "AMERICA'S GUN PROBLEM? TOO FEW PEOPLE CARRY ONE" (shown on an image) was posted on…

October 3, 2021
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“The problem with natural immunity is that it’s free”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines "natural immunity" as immunity "acquired from exposure to the disease organism through infection with the actual disease."…

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BARRY POPIK is a contributor to the Oxford English Dictionary, Dictionary of American Regional English, Historical Dictionary of American Slang, Yale Book of Quotations and Dictionary of Modern Proverbs. Since 1990 he has also been a regular contributor to Gerald Cohen's Comments on Etymology.

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