insult to the workers at Longbridge and the dependent factories who face devastation. ... These "hardworking families" now face the dole.' In satire: 'I got to do some great Soundbites. My favourites were: "hard working families", "providing opportunity and security", "breaking down barriers" and "on the firm foundations we have laid down since 1997 our programme will embed a new progressive consensus in our country". Who couldn't help but be stirred by the Passion of such sentiments?' In a letter to the editor: 'Sir: How right Andrew Schofield is (letter, 14 April) about the mantra "hard-working families". Having previously thought my working life fairly productive, I now discover that my single status proves me to have spent 25 years in total indolence. In fact, given that I've always worked in the public service and so can be dispensed with instantly with only benefit to the economy, I must always have been a freeloader of epic proportions. Given this, it would be hardly surprising if I could not be bothered to drag myself from my pit of sybaritic excess to a polling station.' "Hardworking" is also, by itself, a glittering generality: "They hate our people because it is decent, brave, industrious, hardworking and intelligent. They hate our views, our social policies, and our accomplishments. They hate us as a Reich and as a community. They have forced us into a struggle for life and death. We will defend ourselves accordingly. All is clear between us and our enemies." — Joseph Goebbels' address to Germany, 1939-12-31 See also Working Families Party Working Families for Wal-Mart Another equivalent in Australia is the Aussie battler. Refusal of work Working family, a term used during the lead-up to the Australian federal election, 2007 References External links Hardworking families — indymedia.org.uk Who are 'Britain's hardworking families'? BBC News Political terms in the United Kingdom Rhetorical techniques Political terminology of the United States Political catchphrases Political terminology in Australia Propaganda in the United Kingdom Propaganda in the United States Propaganda techniques