Public Policy Debates

noun a party that does not hold the majority of seats in a legislative body

• The opposition party raised concerns about the new tax legislation during the parliamentary debate.
• The opposition party isn't happy with the government's decision on healthcare.
• The opposition party is always throwing shade at the ruling party.
• In the game of politics, the opposition party is like the loyal opposition, always challenging but ultimately working towards the same goal of a better country.

noun the act of reoffending or returning to criminal behavior

• The program aims to reduce recidivism rates among convicted felons.
• They're trying to help ex-cons stay out of trouble and not go back to jail.
• They're working on keeping repeat offenders from ending up back in the slammer.
• Addressing recidivism is like breaking a cycle of crime and punishment.

noun A proper noun referring to the Affordable Care Act, a healthcare reform law in the United States

• The Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, was signed into law in 2010.
• I signed up for Obamacare last year and it has been really helpful.
• I heard that Obamacare is pretty cool, have you tried it?
• Obamacare is like a safety net for many Americans who cannot afford healthcare.

noun a derogatory term for economic theories or practices considered to be misguided or flawed

• The concept of voodoo economics refers to the economic theories that are considered unrealistic or overly optimistic.
• Some people believe that voodoo economics is just a fancy term for wishful thinking.
• I don't buy into that voodoo economics nonsense - it's all smoke and mirrors.
• His plan to boost the economy seemed like a form of voodoo economics, promising big results with little substance.