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John Howard's Doublespeak

Just a few days ago PM John Howard was critical of the English being taught in schools. Not good enough and too trendy [my word!] he declared.

So, what does our PM do? He says this yesterday when speaking of the new as-yet-unamed "smart cards" to be introduced by the Federal Government.

“It will be necessary for everybody who needs the card to apply for one and it will not be compulsory to have the card,” he said.

“But by the same token it will not be possible to access many services which are normally accessed by people unless one is in possession of the card.”

In good old plain English doesn't this mean that, no, you will not have to be the holder of the card, but without it you will be "lost" and without the "benefit" of various matters [like a pension] in just about every way?

Read the report of the announcement about the card from The Age here.

At the news conference announcing the "smart card" the gaggle of Ministers were at pains to point out how the card would assist in the prevention of crime, fraud and even terrorism. Heh? If one doesn't have to have a card how will the relevant authorities come to know anything Michelle Grattan, Senior Political Editor of The Age, asked. The PM's answer suggested that he would do well to heed his own words about the use of the English language. The reply was bumbling and evasive!

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