The Swamp of Washington

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GoodTaste

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Does "swamp" here mean "a place where power abuse is rampant"?

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Richard Dawkins
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“Allow these very important, essential places of faith to open right now for this weekend. If they don’t do it, I will override the governors” (Donald Trump).


Oh NO! Central Government riding roughshod over States Rights! Federal Government tyranny! The Swamp of Washington!
 

GoesStation

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Yes, but he's speaking sarcastically.
 

Charlie Bernstein

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Right. He's making fun of the U.S. president and his supporters.
 

Skrej

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The observation is about perceived abuse of power, but Washington D.C is often referred to as a metaphorical 'swamp', because things tend to get bogged down in power struggles, government over-reach, regulations, political wheeling-dealing, and red-tape to the extent that it's difficult to get anything done.

One of Trump's campaign promises was to 'drain the swamp'. Here Dawkins is accusing the president of over-exerting the federal government's reach in the same way Trump complained about during his campaign.

Dawson is attempting to point out what he perceives as hypocrisy through cutesy irony.
 

Tdol

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And Professor Dawkins most certainly does not think that places of faith are essential.
 

GoodTaste

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And Professor Dawkins most certainly does not think that places of faith are essential.

Not only that. According to The God Delusion, these places should be cancelled altogether under the banner of "In Science We Trust."
 

Tdol

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You can't accuse him of moderation.
 
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