“If something cannot go on forever, it will stop” (Stein’s Law)
Economist Herbert Stein (1916-1999) wrote in 1986: "But if it can't go on forever it will stop. And if we never do anything that we can't go on doing forever we will never do very…
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“In matters of principle, stand like a rock; in matters of taste, swim with the current”
The Youth's Companion (a popular American children's magazine) published this anonymous line in 1891: "Either as wife, sister, husband or brother, if you would have a happy family…
Robin Hood Plan (property tax)
Entry in progress -- B.P. Wikipedia: Robin Hood planThe Robin Hood plan was a media nickname given to legislation enacted by the U.S. state of Texas in 1993 to provide court-mandated equitable…
“Heads, I win; Tails, the government will bail me out”
When flipping a coin to decide an outcome, it's usually "Heads, I win; tails, I lose" or "Heads, I win; tails, you win." The dishonest saying is: "Heads, I win; tails,…
Progressive
Entry in progress -- B.P. Wikipedia: Progressive Party (United States)The name Progressive has been assigned to a collection of parties in the United States over the past century or so. Several…
Lobbyist (Lobbying)
A "lobbyist" is one who engages in "lobbying" -- trying to influence public officials (such as members of a legislature) to support the lobbyist's position on legislation.…
“The two enemies of the people are criminals and government…”
Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826) did write, in the Kentucky Resolutions of 1798, the following: "...in questions of power then, then, let no more be heard of confidence in man, but bind him down…
Selectarian
Entry in progress -- B.P. The Vegetarian Athlete Types of VegetariansPersonally, I'm not so fond of all the "labels," since we all draw our own arbitrary lines which may or may not…
“When the race gets tough, step on the gas”
Entry in progress -- B.P. Google BooksTom Masson's Annual By Thomas Lansing MassonGarden City, NY: Doubleday, Page & Company1924Pg. 71:If you see you can't dodge trouble, step on the…
Populist (Populism)
Entry in progress -- B.P. Wikipedia: PopulistPopulist may refer to: . A supporter of Populism, a political philosophy urging social and political system change that favours "the people"…
“Perception is everything (in politics)”
"Perception is everything (in politics)" or "Perception is reality (in politics)" means that what the public perceives to be true is important, not if something is actually…
“As government expands, liberty contracts”
"There's a clear cause and effect here that is as neat and predictable as a law of physics: as government expands, liberty contracts," said President Ronald Reagan (1911-2004) in his…
Sock Puppet
A "sock puppet" is a puppet made from a sock. This form of "sock puppet" has existed since at least the 1940s, popularized in the 1950s by Shari Lewis (1933-1998) and her sock…
“Live in the know” (Wall Street Journal slogan)
The Wall Street Journal launched an advertising campaign in January 2010 with a new slogan: "Live in the know." A previous slogan had been "The daily diary of the American…
Purple State
Entry in progress -- B.P. A purple state is also called a "battleground state" and a "swing state." Wikipedia: Red states and blue statesThe terms "red states" and…
Blue State/Red State
Entry in progress -- B.P. Wikipedia: Red state and blue stateThe terms "red states" and "blue states" came into use in 2000 to refer to those states of the United States whose…
Red State/Blue State
Entry in progress -- B.P. Wikipedia: Red state and blue stateThe terms "red states" and "blue states" came into use in 2000 to refer to those states of the United States whose…
White Collar
A "white collar" worker is a professional or educated worker, or someone who works in an office. A "blue collar" worker is someone of the working class, such as a tradesperson.…
Blue Collar
A “blue collar” worker is someone of the working class, such as a tradesperson. A “white collar” worker is a professional or educated worker, or someone who works in an office. The term…
Crony Capitalism
The term "crony capitalism" first appears in an August 24, 1981 Time magazine article by John DeMott and edited by George M. Taber. In a 1998 "On Language" article in the New…