'Kitchen-Table' Is a Type of Politics
2025-02-02
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1And now, Words and Their Stories, from VOA Learning English.
2On this program we explore words and expressions in the English language.
3We give examples and notes on usage.
4Today we talk about different kinds of politics.
5We start with kitchen-table politics. The kitchen is often considered the hub, or center, of the home.
6It is where we gather to not only share a meal but to talk about the events of the day.
7We often discuss issues of importance with our family and friends around the dining room table.
8So, kitchen-table issues are those that affect individuals and their families daily.
9A family might discuss these issues at the kitchen table during mealtimes.
10Rising gas and food prices are two good examples of kitchen-table politics.
11These issues affect decisions we make day to day.
12They are sometimes also called dinner-table politics.
13Or we could describe them as bread-and-butter issues.
14Merriam Webster dictionary defines bread-and-butter issues as "being as basic as the earning of one's livelihood."
15The online Cambridge Dictionary defines a bread-and-butter issue as "a subject or problem that relates directly to most people's needs and interests."
16For example, affordable food prices and availability of good healthcare are the kinds of bread-and-butter political issues that people vote on.
17The noun bread and butter means a way of making a living. For example, for a creative writer, her ideas are her bread and butter.
18So, bread-and-butter political issues deal with our ability to provide for the needs of ourselves and our families.
19Next, let's talk about green politics.
20These political issues deal with caring for the natural environment.
21Green politics can cover ideas such as environmental sustainability, recycling, and threats to wildlife.
22The natural world is central to green politics.
23Identity politics is more personal.
24This term means that a person's political views are formed by their experiences and understanding of themselves.
25Things like gender, age, social and economic position, and religious belief can inform identity politics.
26Finally, we come to gotcha politics.
27This type of politics is centered on damaging opponents through public accusations of wrongdoing or misbehavior.
28Gotcha politics often involves investigation into the private lives, past and present, of politicians in search of negative information.
29In gotcha politics, "Gotcha" is short for "I got you," meaning, "I caught you!"
30And that's the end of this Words and Their Stories.
31Until next time, I'm Anna Matteo.
1And now, Words and Their Stories, from VOA Learning English. 2On this program we explore words and expressions in the English language. We give examples and notes on usage. 3Today we talk about different kinds of politics. 4We start with kitchen-table politics. The kitchen is often considered the hub, or center, of the home. It is where we gather to not only share a meal but to talk about the events of the day. We often discuss issues of importance with our family and friends around the dining room table. 5So, kitchen-table issues are those that affect individuals and their families daily. A family might discuss these issues at the kitchen table during mealtimes. 6Rising gas and food prices are two good examples of kitchen-table politics. These issues affect decisions we make day to day. They are sometimes also called dinner-table politics. Or we could describe them as bread-and-butter issues. 7Merriam Webster dictionary defines bread-and-butter issues as "being as basic as the earning of one's livelihood." The online Cambridge Dictionary defines a bread-and-butter issue as "a subject or problem that relates directly to most people's needs and interests." 8For example, affordable food prices and availability of good healthcare are the kinds of bread-and-butter political issues that people vote on. 9The noun bread and butter means a way of making a living. For example, for a creative writer, her ideas are her bread and butter. 10So, bread-and-butter political issues deal with our ability to provide for the needs of ourselves and our families. 11Next, let's talk about green politics. These political issues deal with caring for the natural environment. Green politics can cover ideas such as environmental sustainability, recycling, and threats to wildlife. The natural world is central to green politics. 12Identity politics is more personal. This term means that a person's political views are formed by their experiences and understanding of themselves. Things like gender, age, social and economic position, and religious belief can inform identity politics. 13Finally, we come to gotcha politics. This type of politics is centered on damaging opponents through public accusations of wrongdoing or misbehavior. Gotcha politics often involves investigation into the private lives, past and present, of politicians in search of negative information. 14In gotcha politics, "Gotcha" is short for "I got you," meaning, "I caught you!" 15And that's the end of this Words and Their Stories. 16Until next time, I'm Anna Matteo. 17Anna Matteo wrote this story for VOA Learning English. 18______________________________________________________ 19Words in This Story 20dine -v. to eat dinner 21dinner -n. the main meal of the day 22basic -adj. of, relating to, or forming the base or essence 23livelihood -n. means of support 24affordable -adj. having a cost that is not too high 25sustainability -n. of, relating to, or being a method of harvesting or using a resource so that the resource is not depleted or permanently damaged 26recycling -n. to process (something, such as liquid body waste, glass, or cans) in order to regain material for human use 27gender -n. the behavioral, cultural, or psychological traits typically associated with one sex 28negative -adj. not positive or helpful