A form of bias based on Winston Churchill's famous quote about democracy being "the worst form of Government except for all those other forms"—used to justify abuses, atrocities, and crimes committed by democratic, quasi-democratic, semi-democratic, or pseudo-democratic governments, particularly Western and liberal democratic ones. The bias works by establishing an impossible standard: democracy is judged against utopia, while alternatives are judged against their actual historical performance. Any democratic failure is excused by "but it's better than the alternatives"; any authoritarian success is dismissed as exceptional or temporary. Government exception bias allows democratic states to commit human rights abuses, wage illegal wars, and suppress dissent while maintaining the moral high ground—because, after all, they're not as bad as those regimes. The bias is most visible in discussions of Western foreign policy, where "flawed but still the best" becomes a blanket justification for anything.
Example: "When criticized for drone strikes killing civilians, he deployed government exception bias: 'Democracies make mistakes, but at least we're not a dictatorship that murders its own people.' The comparison was true but irrelevant—it excused specific atrocities by appealing to general superiority. The victims didn't care about comparative political science; they cared about being dead. Government exception bias had done its work: changing the subject from crime to comparison."
by Dumu The Void February 18, 2026
Get the Government Exception Bias mug.“Government work” is what one does for oneself in a shop on company time using company tools, machinery and materials. “Government work” “hides” the fact that you are stealing company resources by implying that it’s a secret, off the books, project. But since everyone knows what “government work” means you really aren’t hiding anything, you’re sharing an inside joke.
When someone says “that’s good enough for government work,” they are admitting that they are doing less than perfect work because it’s just for their personal use.
When someone says “that’s good enough for government work,” they are admitting that they are doing less than perfect work because it’s just for their personal use.
Worker 1: What’s that? It doesn’t look like any of our usual products.
Worker 2: I can’t tell you, It’s government work.
Worker 1: It looks like a part for your new motorcycle.
Worker 2: I could tell you but then I’d have to kill you.
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Worker 1: That part you’re working on will never pass inspection.
Worker 2: Doesn’t matter, it’s government work.
Worker 2: I can’t tell you, It’s government work.
Worker 1: It looks like a part for your new motorcycle.
Worker 2: I could tell you but then I’d have to kill you.
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Worker 1: That part you’re working on will never pass inspection.
Worker 2: Doesn’t matter, it’s government work.
by Gray_Hare January 16, 2025
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Get the Governamenent mug.Hym "You know what? You're right Frannie. Becoming the governor of South Korea could be considered a betrayal of my Japanese brothers and sister. Therefore! I will rule from Japan. I'll ship the Korea women to me."
by Hym Iam February 22, 2025
Get the Governor of South Korea mug.(Talking about a rich person)
“You can tell they ain’t never got a taste of that Government Cheese”
(Talking about making it out)
“Can’t believe I used to live off Government Cheese”
(Talking about someone poor)
“They look like they have Government Cheese for every meal”
“You can tell they ain’t never got a taste of that Government Cheese”
(Talking about making it out)
“Can’t believe I used to live off Government Cheese”
(Talking about someone poor)
“They look like they have Government Cheese for every meal”
by ñēvērłāñd March 12, 2025
Get the Government Cheese mug.an exclamation similar to "girl boss", meaning dominant, cool, influential, or important; usually in an insane or unbelievable way.
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