I don't like the word manifesto. It has come to mean untrustworthy.

Quote of the Day Dec. 02, 2012 - 06:15AM JST ( 5 )

Opposition LDP leader Shinzo Abe, referring to the buzzword which all parties used during the 2009 election to describe their pledges and policies. (NHK)

Order by Time Order by Popularity

5 Comments

0

movieguyDec. 02, 2012 - 07:28AM JST

Well when politicians use real words that are suppose to state promises and goals, of course you're not going to like it. Better to go back to pre 2009 and just lie and be vague to the public because then there wouldn't be a word that automatically shows you're untrustworthy.
1

gaijinfoDec. 02, 2012 - 08:58AM JST

The name of the game in politics is to be vague, so you can get as much public buy-in as possible, but also so that you can not be held responsible.

If you said you had a "plan" then it would be obvious that you failed if it didn't work. But if you say something like "manifesto" or "platform" then it allows you to say things without being held as accountable.

It's like saying "I believe that exercise is the best for weight loss." People would believe you even if you were fat tub of lard. But if you said something like "I plan to lose weight through exercise," then you're on the hook, buddy.

One thing politicians loathe is being on the hook.
0

wanderlustDec. 05, 2012 - 09:43AM JST

It is the politicians' broken promises that have led the word manifesto to be associated with untrustworthy. It is a perfectly good English word...
0

japan_cynicDec. 07, 2012 - 02:46PM JST

"Manifesto" isn't a "buzzword" any more than "table" or "coffee" are. It's a word. What other word would anyone use for....a manifesto?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manifesto
-1

NessieDec. 07, 2012 - 03:08PM JST

...not to mention grandiose.