It is a reference derived from railroads. The track for a railroad has two rails, but there can be a third rail:
A third rail is a method of providing electric power to a railway train, through a semi-continuous rigid conductor placed alongside or between the rails of a railway track. It is used typically in a mass transit or rapid transit system, which has alignments in its own corridors, fully or almost fully segregated from the outside environment. Third rail systems are always supplied from direct current electricity.
One way to be seriously injured or killed by a subway train is to be standing on the tracks. Another is to touch the third rail and be electrocuted. Consequently, the metaphorical third rail of politics:
The third rail of a nation's politics is a metaphor for any issue so controversial that it is "charged" and "untouchable"; any politician or public official who dares to broach the subject will invariably suffer politically. The term is most commonly used in North America. The "third rail of American politics" is often said to be cutting Social Security; the "third rail" of Canadian politics is said to be public health care or advocating an overhaul of the pension system.
The Urban Dictionary concurs:
third rail
A dangerous area of discussion, a point at which the mere mention of a subject result is disaster. Commonly used in politics.
"Social security is the third rail of politics. Step on it and you're dead."
-The West Wing
With this in mind, consider these words by Mayor Gahan, as offered by the newspaper.
The leadership of Harvest Homecoming has been “adaptive and accommodating” and tweak the festival by offering new events in recent years, Mayor Jeff Gahan said Monday.
George Orwell's newspeak just got a hometown boost. There'll be more on this topic tomorrow in my ON THE AVENUES column.
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