We live in superlative times for the euphemism

Perfectly ordinary manifestations of civilised existence, for example, suddenly achieve iconic status. Icon has everyday roots in Greek - eikon, an image: eikenai, to be like. Down the years, it has accrued more significance, from religious imagery to sex symbols, or as a symbol of belief or cultural movement.

Nowadays, anything can be called an icon, including in the past week, for example, the pier at Westonsuper-Mare (sadly burnt down), the iPhone (in constant and frantic use) and plastic bags at Sainsbury's (ditto). No matter that one is a relic of a bygone age and the other two so ubiquitous as to render them inadmissible, we have to hang on to them as touchstones of a recognisable way of life.

In the same manner, any human endeavour that appears to rise remotely above the level of the mundane must be described as worldclass. London, we have recently heard, has the potential to become a world-class cycling city, whatever that may mean.

The facilities for the forthcoming Olympic Games will be, needless to say, world class.

The national football team, despite all evidence to the contrary, is said to be stuffed with world-class players.

Meanwhile, down in the real world, euphemism attempts to make light of impending catastrophe. The slump in the property market is described as a housing correction, as if the astonishingly inflated prices that until recently prevailed needed only a stern teacher figure to come along and mark them down.

Those companies in desperate straits are advised to monetise, a charming way of saying sell up, run to the hills and damn the consequences.

In such circumstances as these, we would expect our politicians to sort out the mess that they have connived at creating. And we would not be disappointed. From right and left, they have united in an angelic choir chanting the mantra of change (from the old French changier, derived from the Latin cambire, to exchange or barter). David Cameron urges change, as does David Miliband.

As if to prove that the special relationship is not dead, Barack Obama joins in the chorus from across the Atlantic.

After all the superlatives and euphemisms, change would be refreshing - if it didn't actually mean more of the same.