Weaponized Words in Partisan Rhetoric
A quick reference vs. emotional irrationality
In recent weeks, prominent public servants have asserted “the will of the people” is the ultimate check and balance — the very foundation of democracy. We give up this power if our minds are fooled or our hearts misled by those who seek to exploit or suffocate our will.
“… when every one knows a little about a great many things, it becomes increasingly difficult for anyone to know whether he knows what he is talking about or not… we tend to substitute emotions for thoughts.” (T.S. Eliot, 1921)
We the people must be able to hold conversations about important subjects — and words matter because we need to understand each other. Of course both sides of any issue have a self-interest to influence our position and there is no doubt some resort to deceptive tactics. Even if words or messages feel right because they support beliefs we have chosen to hold, we are no longer free when others tell us what to do (e.g., how to vote) based on labels they define as good or bad.
Regardless of political party, we are all republicans living in communities of a liberal democratic society.
(And we all want to be! … read on…)
Word Clarification Attempt
Links on words go to Wikipedia definitions if my clarification is unsatisfying.
Republican / Republic
The U.S. is a republic: our nation is owned by its citizens (is not the property of a monarch) and people are chosen (elected by citizens) to perform jobs on behalf of the people as empowered (and limited) by the U.S. Constitution and rule of law. (Same: a constitutional republic or a representative democracy).
A republican (small ‘r’) is a person who advocates for the republic form of government. Presumably, this also means republicans believe the chosen representatives will genuinely act on behalf of their constituents (as opposed to preferential favor to special interests or blind obedience to party lines.)
A Republican in the U.S. refers to a member of the political party (also called the G.O.P./grand old party) symbolized by an elephant, associated with the color red, and in modern times supporting conservative social values and economic beliefs including: lower taxes, free market capitalism/deregulation, increased military spending/ gun rights/ religion-in-public-institutions, and restrictions on abortion/ LGBT rights/ immigration/labor unions.
Democrat / Democratic / Democracy
The U.S. is a democracy: the population (many people) chooses how laws are made and governed (indirectly through elected public servants — i.e. a representative democracy). There is an implied freedom for law-abiding citizens that comes from this — but not necessarily any implication of equality. A key concept establishing democracy over despotism/ monarchy is consent of the governed — the Social Contract — asserting the legitimacy for government authority over people must represent the will of those people and fairly apply the rule of law.
A democrat is a person who advocates for the democracy form of government.
A Democrat in the U.S. refers to a member of the political party symbolized by a donkey (apparently for the persistent common man), associated with the color blue, and in modern times supporting liberal social values and economic beliefs including: economic equality through welfare programs and organized labor, increased environmental protection/ access to affordable health care and higher education/ consumer protection/ campaign finance reform/ LGBT rights/ immigration reform and restrictions on firearm ownership.
Socialism / Socialist / Society
Socialism encompasses political, economic and social systems toward sharing ownership/ administration of public assets (and services.) In the modern U.S., this would technically include: public safety (fire, police, EMT, FEMA, NTSA), military/G.I. Bill, infrastructure (roads, bridges, weather service, drinking water, sewers), public health (food & drug safety, Medicare, municipal hospitals, VA, CDC), public schools, public parks, unemployment insurance and FDIC (bank deposit insurance). The alternative (private ownership/ administration) is argued to be more efficient / less wasteful due to capitalist competition, so long as (regulated and lawful) profit incentives align with the public’s interest in the delivery of the service/ use of the asset.
A socialist is a person who advocates or practices socialism.
A society is simply a large group of people in the same spatial (or social — e.g. groups on Reddit/Facebook) territory, typically sharing cultural expectations.
Conservatism / Libertarian
Conservatism encompasses political, economic and social systems promoting traditional cultural norms, authority/ hierarchy (social stability), and preservation of institutions such as property rights and religion. In the modern U.S., conservatism is characterized by respect for American traditions, individual liberties (conforming to Judeo-Christian values), strong military, small government, deregulation/ free trade, economic liberalism, anti-communism and defense of Western culture.
A conservative is a person who advocates or practices conservatism.
A Libertarian in the U.S. typically refers to a Libertarian Conservative: fiscally conservative and socially liberal — upholding liberty as a core principle: maximize political freedom, freedom of choice, and autonomy while sharing skepticism of authority and state power. The Tea Party was an example, advocating for reducing national debt and federal budget deficit by reducing government spending and taxes (though less libertarian with respect to aspects of immigration, nationalism and social issues.)
Liberal / Liberalism / Liberty
The U.S. is a Liberal Democracy: it has representatives elected by citizens from multiple distinct political parties, separation of powers between different branches of government, the rule of law, a market economy, private property, and protection of human rights/civil liberties/political freedoms. These are codified into a system of practice by the U.S. Constitution.
Liberalism encompasses political and moral philosophy rooted in consent of the governed and equality before the law. In the modern U.S., liberalism is characterized by public spending on education/ health care/ welfare (safety net), protection of voting rights/ reproductive rights/ LGBT rights, immigration reform and regulatory oversight to reduce economic inequality. Criticism stems from the costs of the social services inhibiting economic growth and that it creates an unintended consequence of welfare as an incentive to be unproductive and poor.
A liberal is a person who advocates or practices liberalism.
Liberty is the ability to do as one pleases. The word is enshrined in the U.S. Declaration of Independence: “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” It differs from Freedom in that it entails responsible use of freedom under the law (without depriving anyone else of their freedom). You have the freedom to murder, but not the liberty to murder — where your consequential punishment is taking away your liberty (prison) through criminal conviction.
Communist / Communism / communism / Community
(Pure) communism encompasses social, political and economic philosophies and movements seeking to establish common ownership of materials/ factories/ machinery to produce goods and services, while eliminating social classes/ money and the state.
Communism: What we think of in the context of Russia/USSR, China or North Korea are (Marx/Engels) communist ideas re-interpreted by Lenin (dictatorship of the proletariat), Trotsky (proletarian internationalism and self-emancipation of the working class), Stalin (totalitarian state collective, industrialization, and subordination to the Soviet Communist Party) and Mao (peasantry in place of proletariat-worker). These are characterized by single-party systems (effectively feudalism), authoritarian control over freedoms (speech, press, religion, ownership, assembly, privacy, etc.) and central planning of nationalized industries.
A communist/Communist is a person who advocates or practices (c/C)ommunism.
A community is simply a group of living things with some commonality (geographical location, values, customs, identity, etc.). Human communities may share beliefs, resources, needs, risks and even reside in a virtual space.
These words also tend to sneak into discussions around the other words.
Rhetoric / Pandering / Propaganda
Rhetoric is simply communicating in a form intended to persuade.
Pandering (in politics) is expressing views tailored for the purpose of gaining support (i.e. votes) from the target audience (which may not coincide with one’s personal views or intent.)
Propaganda is information used to promote or publicize an agenda by producing emotional rather than rational response, presenting information that is biased, misleading, and/or selective of the underlying objective facts.
Demagogue / Populist / Progressive / Partisan
A demagogue is a politician skilled in flattering and exploiting emotions, prejudice and ignorance of the population — pledging to overturn established norms of political conduct, accuse moderate and thoughtful opponents as weak or disloyal but ultimately seeking power without recourse to principle. Demagogues date back to the earliest democracies.
A populist (politician) appeals to “ordinary people” concerned with the disregard by the “established elite.”
A progressive (politician in the U.S.) typically advocates for reform in light of modernization, addressing emergent issues such as: pollution, growth of large corporations/ financialization, corruption in politics, inequality (in voter’s rights/ education/ social justice/ health care/ employment.)
A partisan (in politics — different than the military context) politician acts in obedience to party policies, regardless of the interests of their constituents or personal values and demonstrating reluctance to compromise with political opponents. He or she will then attempt to justify inconsistencies through pandering rhetoric — if not propaganda.
I wrote this article out of a frustration in feeling vocabulary-restricted when I speak publicly about topics that should not be considered politically biased. In simply appealing to what should universally be taken as “a better world for the human beings,” I find audience members triggered(*) by implications that society = socialism or community = communism. Even the most ardent conservatives can and should seek to build stronger communities toward a better society, with no hint of betraying their freedom.
(* note even the word ‘triggered’ should be used with caution).
Further reading:
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