Can we transform the language of politics?

Political commentary is plagued by a collection of terms that carry a pejorative connotation. Discourse would be more balanced if they could be replaced with words that were even-handed. Here are some examples.
‘Back-flip’ and its colourful variants, ‘back-down’ and ‘about-face’ are terms used to indicate a change of mind or a different approach. Politicians are entitled to change their minds in the face of new evidence, different thinking or changed circumstances; the opposite, sticking stubbornly to an outdated or untenable position, is foolish. So why not use terms such as ‘change of mind’ or ‘different approach’, or ‘new tactic’ or read more

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