又中又英｜Third Rail

Trains run on two rails, as we all know, but not many people know that some train systems have a third rail. The third rail is not used for a train's wheels. It is a rail that runs parallel to the two rails to supply high voltage electricity to trains. The New York subway uses such a third rail for power. London's subway, called the Tube, has four rails, with two supplying electricity. Hong Kong’s MTR uses an overhead system instead of a third rail for electricity. But the expression “third rail” has another completely different meaning in politics.

A third rail in political terms means an issue so controversial that politicians dare not discuss it. They regard such issues as untouchable, just like the high voltage third rail of a train system, which electrocutes and kills people who touch it. The expression is attributed to the late Democratic Party’s Tip O’Neill, who was Speaker of the US House of Representatives from 1977 to 1987. He said Social Security, which provides a monthly source of income to retirees, is the third rail of American politics. Politicians who interfere with it by reducing benefits or eliminating it commit political suicide.

The expression is being used again as fears grow among retirees the Trump Administration will reduce or cut Social Security benefits to shrink the huge government deficit. President Donald Trump has promised he won’t touch Social Security but his ally Elon Musk, who Trump appointed to cut government costs, claimed there is massive fraud in Social Security benefits, raising fears he will reduce or cut benefits.

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我们人人也知道，火车行走在两条铁轨上，但不是许多人知道，一些铁路系统有第三轨（third rail）。这条第三轨（third rail）并不是用来给火车车轮行走的，它是跟两条铁轨平行铺设，用以供应高压电力给火车的。纽约地铁就有用第三轨（third rail）供电；伦敦的地铁称为Tube（管子），则有四条轨道，当中两条是用来供电的。香港的铁路则是用架空电缆而非第三轨（third rail）去供电。然而，习语“third rail”在政治领域中却有另一个迥然不同的意思。

A third rail作为政治术语，是指一个议题甚具争议，令政客们都不敢讨论。他们将这种议题视为不可触及的，一如铁路系统的高压线（third rail），会使任何触碰的人触电身亡。这个习语得归功于已故民主党人提普．奥尼尔，他于1977至87年任美国众议院议长。他说，为退休人员提供每月收入的美国社会保障，是美国政治的高压线（third rail）。政客若要插手削减福利甚或剔除它，简直是政治自杀。

当退休人员越发担忧，特朗普政府会削减或砍掉社会保障福利，以缩减政府庞大的赤字时，这个习语又再被使用。总统当劳．特朗普已许诺他不会触碰社会保障，然而他的盟友伊隆．马斯克，就是受特朗普任命去减省政府开支的，却声称社会保障福利涉及大量的欺诈，引起许多人担忧他将要削减或取消相关福利。

mickchug@gmail.com
Michael Chugani褚简宁
中译：七刻
褚简宁