University releases 2012 Banished Words List (I'm quoted)

[yurbud]

14. my pet peeve: ''special interests'' the ultimate weasel word of politics

How many other words can you use that have the exact opposite meaning depending on the audience?

When lefties hear special interests, they think it means the rich, corporations, banks, etc.

When righties hear special interests, they think of blacks, immigrants, labor union, gays, and people they haven't heard of yet but will hate and fear once they do hear of them.

politicians love this because not only does their target audience hear what they want, but others could not possibly be offended.

I would rather politicians say exactly whose influence they want to curb and whose interests they don't want to serve.