POLITIC-IAN versus POLITIC-ASTER
What is the difference between a politic-ian and a politic-aster?
Let us first define politic, -aster and politicaster.
DEFINITIONS
Politic comes from the L. word politicus and is defined by 1828 Webster’s dictionary as:
- Wise; prudent and sagacious in devising and pursuing measures adapted to promote the public welfare; applied to persons; as a politic prince.
- Well devised and adapted to the public prosperity; applied to things.
A true Politician is thus one who looks out for the welfare of the city or state s/he serves—using wise; prudent and sagacious policies and measures adapted to promote the public welfare.
How about a Politic-aster? Who is s/he?
First lets define -aster. The pejorative suffix -aster (meaning something that is inferior, small or shallow) gives us some delightful words when it comes to name-calling. A reviewer brands a poet a poetaster (an inferior poet) and the reviewee might return the favor by calling the former a criticaster (an incompetent critic).
Thus a politicaster is defined as:
- A petty politician; a pretender to politics.
- A petty politician; a pretender to political knowledge or influence.
- An unstatesmanlike practitioner of politics: a petty or contemptible politician
- An inadequate or contemptible politician.
- an ill-suited or disliked politician
Timorous, trimming politicasters, ALL for THE PARTY without thought of THE STATE —New York Times.
"The politicaster is looking for small opportunities -- for such pickings and stealings as a careless public may leave for those of his kind. The great politician is looking for great opportunities." - Samuel McChord Crothers; In Praise of Politicians; The Wall Street Journal (New York); Jan 5, 2004.
ETYMOLOGY
Politicaster (n.): "a petty, feeble, or contemptible politician" [OED], 1640s, from Italian or Spanish politicastro, noun use of adjective meaning "political," from Latin politicus (see political).
What happens when good men refuse to politic?
The great parliamentarian Edmund Burke said, “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” WILL THE REAL GOOD MEN OR TRUE POLITIC'IAN PLEASE STAND UP!
