bureaucracy

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William Hupy
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bureaucracy

Postby William Hupy » Tue Jun 02, 2015 9:28 am

Somehow this word evolved from a Latin word meaning either "red" or "shaggy garment". Apparently the French used a cloth to cover a desk and, well, you can take it from there. The "cracy" portion is from Greek "kratia" denoting "power of".
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Slava
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Re: bureaucracy

Postby Slava » Tue Jun 02, 2015 7:28 pm

I wonder if the cloth covering back then was to protect the wood from any extra ink that might seep through the paper, or spill. As in the blotter I have on mine. Quite probably folk etymology, but I like it.
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William Hupy
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Re: bureaucracy

Postby William Hupy » Thu Jun 11, 2015 9:42 am

Slava: probably and to keep the dust off valuable papers.
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Perry Lassiter
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Re: bureaucracy

Postby Perry Lassiter » Thu Jun 11, 2015 8:35 pm

Or to hide its mysterious and corrupt practices. Few have recognized how many ills of society can be traced to the infinite workings of bureaucracy.
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Slava
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Re: bureaucracy

Postby Slava » Fri Nov 06, 2015 7:35 pm

Perry's post brings us full circle. If bureaucracy began life as something red, it is now known as red tape.

amandel
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Re: bureaucracy

Postby amandel » Sun Nov 08, 2015 9:47 pm

A well known saying claims "bureaucracy keeps growing to cater to the needs of a growing bureacracy". I wonder if there is a figurative use of the word for which would the saying stays meaningful.


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