For over a month, critics of President John D. Seevers have accused his administration of using deceptive language to disguise predatory political policies as positive ones. The language in question has been variously referred to across publications as “trickery,” “chicanery,” and “sophistry.”
In addition to the previously mentioned characterizations, the language has been most frequently described as evoking the concepts of “doublespeak” and “doublethink.” The latter term first appeared in George Orwell’s dystopian novel 1984 to describe, according to Merriam-Webster, “a simultaneous belief in two contradictory ideas.” “Doublespeak,” a word that, contrary to popular belief, isn’t actually present in the novel, emerged following its publication to describe language—usually propaganda—used to encourage the spread of doublethink.
Claims that the Seevers administration was encouraging and relying on the spread of doublethink began after an apparent reversal of the President’s stance on federally funded food assistance. President Seevers originally announced significant funding cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP and went so far as to threaten to abolish the program altogether. In an address to Congress, he referred to the program as “useless,” “a waste of money,” and “an incentive to make the least productive members of society even less productive.”
“The hungry and homeless need to stay hungry and homeless,” said Seevers. “It’s their fault they ended up like that. To give them handouts all willy-nilly like this is a show of weakness, plain and simple. Though some of you Democrat cowards staring at me in disbelief might have forgotten this, America isn’t a country of weakness, but one of strength!” Seevers’ supporters in Congress then began “USA!” and “keep them hungry!” chants.
Two weeks later, the President called a press conference to announce that “SNAP is here to stay.” “Democrats want to take food out of the mouths of the needy. They want children to starve,” claimed Seevers in spite of his previous comments. “Can you believe that? Well, I’m here to put a stop to it. I’m here to say that for as long as I preside over these United States, SNAP won’t be going anywhere. Take this down: S-S-S. Seevers Saved SNAP.” When a journalist brought up Seevers’ contradictory comments during his congressional address, the President appeared confused before saying “I love SNAP—I’ve always said that.”
Within minutes, #SeeversSavedSNAP began trending on X. Conservative publications and news stations, including Fox News and Newsmax, praised the President’s decision on SNAP as “heroic” and “direly necessary.”
However, Seevers’ critics weren’t as impressed. Democratic Senator Deon Early of Illinois voiced his frustration during MSNBC’s “Morning Joe”. “How could the President’s supporters have forgotten what he said just two weeks ago?” questioned Early. “How can they know what he said before and not take issue with what he says now? At this rate, he might declare nuclear war one day, say ‘sike’ the next, and then claim that he saved the world from imminent destruction. In fact, can we cut that? I don’t want to give him ideas.”
Featured image/photo courtesy of research.gatech.edu.