Goobermint (Gooberment)
“Goober” entered the English language from Africa in the early 1800s as another way to say “peanut.” By the mid-19th century, “goober” meant an idiot or a fool or a simpleton or a country bumpkin—something a city dweller would call a farmer.
“Goobermint” (or “gooberment”) is a “government” of “goobers” (idiots). When former Georgia peanut farmer Jimmy Carter was elected U.S. president in 1976, the word “gooberment” was cited in print in the November 1976 New York (NY) Times. ‘Gooberment” has been used in online newsgroups since 1992 and “goobermint” since 1993.
Dialect variations of the word “government” dating from the 1800s include “gubberment/gubbermint” and “gubment/gubmint.”
Free Marriam-Webster Dictionary
goo·ber noun \ˈgü-bər, ˈgu̇-\
Definition of GOOBER
Southern & Midland
: peanut
Origin of GOOBER
of Bantu origin; akin to Kimbundu ŋguba peanut
First Known Use: 1834
goober noun
slang
: a naive, ignorant, or foolish person
Google Books
Cassell’s Dictionary of Slang
By Jonathon Green
Cassell
2006
Pg. 622:
goober n.
[mid-19C+] an idiot, a fool, ain incompetent, a country bumpkin; also affectionate use; thus goob, to act irritatingly; GOOB OUT v. (cf. BUCKWHEAT n.).
25 November 1976, New York (NY) Times, “Meet the Real Georgia; You May Be Surprised” by B. Drummond Ayres Jr., pg. 62:
Not even Henry Grady, the late Atlanta publisher, envisioned the kind of new state that was about to send a peanut farmer to Washington to run what some New York advertising wag has tagged “The Gooberment.” Some lingering Yankee perceptions need to be adjusted.
Google Groups: talk.politics.misc
Newsgroups: talk.politics.misc, alt.conspiracy
From: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) (General Boycott)
Date: Fri, 20 Nov 1992 01:33:00 GMT
Subject: Re: = X = (The Boycott) (... was The Movie)
No reason to give money to the Fat-Cats who control the entertainment industry?
( ...or the extra taxes to local and federal gooberment.)
Google Groups: rec.aviation.homebuilt
Newsgroups: rec.aviation.homebuilt
From: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) (G A Venkatesh)
Date: Mon, 9 Aug 93 01:20:52 GMT
Local: Sun, Aug 8 1993 8:20 pm
Subject: The FAA/ Wag-Aero debacle (was Re: Is EAA still Experimental???)
(But hey… it keeps all the goobermint pencil pushers “gainfully” employed, donchaknow ... )
Google Groups: alt.radio.pirate
Newsgroups: alt.radio.pirate
From: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) (Mycal)
Date: Fri, 19 Nov 93 20:55:20 GMT
Local: Fri, Nov 19 1993 3:55 pm
Subject: Re: What is the function of Pirate Radio?
Back before 1980 it was possible to get a “micro power” licence. But thanx to NPR and some commercials the Gooberment was lobbied to remove this licence.
Google Groups: alt.sysadmin.recovery
Newsgroups: alt.sysadmin.recovery
From: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) (Mark Milhollan)
Date: Fri, 13 Apr 2001 22:04:38 -0000
Local: Fri, Apr 13 2001 5:04 pm
Subject: If it isn’t the utilities, it’s the Goobermint
Southern Maryland Community Forums
Mikeinsmd
09-10-2007, 07:46 AM
If the goobermint wants to listen in on ole Mikey then bring em on.