You're talking about two quite different uses of the word "austerity". Assimilating the two politically, based on nothing more than semantics,

Is what your enemies will do if they hear you using semantics that give them any opening to do so. Because the right wing lies. Pathologically as well as professionally.

It is also what the conventional wisdom will do when it hears you using semantics that gives it an opening to do so. Because attempting to co-opt the politically weaker narrative to reinforce the politically stronger narrative is how the conventional wisdom deals with cognitive dissonance.

Put another way, would you rather have Migeru point out that your spiel can (will) be read that way, or some bad-faith shill from a far-right belief tank present your spiel that way with a straight face?

- Jake

Friends come and go. Enemies accumulate.