Concepts like subprime are not always easy to explain quickly to wide audiences. So, in order to convey the meaning, politicians and journalists use words like “toxic” to describe the factors causing the economic crisis. Toxic mortgages, toxic banks; credit crunch, bailout.

All of these metaphors and adjectives are loaded words. Their connotations are negative because their outcomes are, simply, negative.

A trade organization, the American Bankers Association, whose members have been targeted with such rhetoric, is eschewing a link with these epithets, explaining many of its member-banks are FDIC-insured and were not involved in the so-called toxic lending.

It bothered the ABA’s CEO so much he wrote a letter to the White House expressing concern over the President’s word usage.

(image credit: nikok)

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