The slippery slope to thought control keeps slip slip slipping along….

The Nova Scotia government has published a list of words and phrases it wants banished from the news media, because it considers them offensive to people with mental illness.

The province’s health department is also offering cash awards to citizens who monitor the airwaves and newspapers and report any use of what the government calls “outdated, negative, inappropriate” terms –including “madman,” “nutcase,” “fruitcake” and “kooky.”

The government even says the terms “mental hospital” and “nervous breakdown” should be out of bounds, not only in stories dealing with the mentally ill, but in all public discourse.

“Stigma against people with a mental illness often involves negative labels, or inaccurate and offensive representations in the media, portraying this population as violent, comical or incompetent,” said a government statement this week.

Added the province’s health minister, Angus MacIsaac: “This initiative will show us if and how media need more guidance and education.”

Yeah, whatever. Weasely government nutjobs must be off their friggin’ rockers. Here’s hoping some principled Nova Scotian corners a couple of these fruitcakes and beats them nutty with a heavy salami. Or some suitably Nova Scotian delicacy of a comparable size and consistency.

Anyway, I’ve reacted to this type nonsense before. On too many occasions, in fact.

It gets tedious, but it needs to be done. Sadly.