This is the sort of stupid redundancy that we have all come to accept and believe is correct.  However, what does ATM stand for?  Automatic Teller Machine.  So when you go off to use the ATM machine, you are using the automatic teller machine machine (you should really be charged twice).  Something you would never dream of saying becomes acceptable with acronyms are used.

Now to the real point of this with perhaps a vaguely sinister bend.  Everyone's favorite Floridian erudite, Jeb Bush, has a problem here.  Jeb is not his given name, but actually his initials.  They stand for John Ellis Bush.  He has made an entire state believe that John Ellis Bush Bush is perfectly legitimate.  Well that's not very surprising considering most of Florida couldn't figure out how to vote correctly.

So what does it really mean?  So what if we elongate the abbreviations we've come to love?  Well for one, why abbreviate in the first place if you are going to add words to the "short cut?" 

Another thing, if we don't question the meaning of the words we use, how can we question the thoughts behind them?  If we get so bogged down in deciphering the meaning of superfluous words we'll never get to the meaning of the message.   But then perhaps that's exactly why we have acronyms for such things.  Besides, we first need someone who actually understands that these things ARE acronyms and not words in themselves.  I'm willing to bet that George W Bush BELIEVES his brother's name is Jeb.

The Acronym Redundancy Conspiracy is real.