White Collar Terrorism

The phrase came to me, as so many ideas do, while shaving. Stretching out the skin, dallying with a razor that could kill in an instant, hands trembling as the blade catches on my cheek. Will it bleed? Not this time. Some days, I emerge from the bathroom looking like the Invisible Man.

I cannot claim credit. It is such a good phrase, a quick glance online revealed it has been used before. But I have not heard it in the mainstream yet. OED, are you looking?

What is the white collar crime?

It is the kind of crime that is so respectable, apparently victimless unless you search too deeply. It is carried out by people who look respectable. They are educated, they dress nicely, they communicate well in writing and speech. But they are liars and crooks. For many, the banker is the archetype.

Contrast the banker to the burglar. He drives a white van, he pulls up outside your house when you are out, and calmly empties the place before the neighbours get suspicious. Or he tries a little bit of menace when you are in, bringing a heavy bar or knife to put the frighteners on you.

The street terrorist is the same. He brings a knife. The difference is he will use it. Contrast the street terrorist to the white collar terrorist. Again, highly educated, possibly at an Ivy League or Oxbridge institution. The Gaddafi boys come to mind.

But this time, this year, the first context I found was on Twitter. The White Collar Terrorist? You’ve guessed it. Donald Trump. And all of his angry white middle class or richer blowhards. They frighten people into all kinds of odd behaviours. They stoke up fear and hatred. They are the extremists who do not kill, at least not directly. There may be death and hurt somewhere, but it is a long way away. Far enough that they can claim innocence.

Watch out. Keep the phrase in mind. The White Collar Terrorist.