Acrimony on Acronyms
Published on June 28, 2011

This commentary argues that the ubiquitous use of acronyms in social policy often makes it difficult to understand major arguments being presented for or against certain policy changes. The problem contributes to the overall low understanding of basic social policy concepts and grammar. It is hard to appreciate the significance of social programs or assess their strengths and weaknesses in the absence of this foundational knowledge. It is all the more difficult to advance and debate various policy proposals without this vital understanding. Saying NO (Not an Option) to acronyms is an important first step toward improving public discourse on social policy.
ISBN – 1-55382-539-X