Lexicon #2

Political Lexicon #2:

These are terms that should be taught in the government run school system, but aren't. 


Paternalism:  The idea that governmenthad the legitimate authority to stop adults from doing bad things, like smoking substances that politicians and bureaucrats do not approve of.  Of

Freedom:  The right to make bad decisions -- like smoking cigarettes or marijuana -- that have negative health consequences so long as you don't violate the rights of others.

Truth: What is real and proven.

Lie:  Knowing and intentional violation of the truth.

Conundrum:  Not knowing the difference between the truth and a lie.

White lie:  knowing and intentional violation of the truth in a harmless manner.  A small lie.  Often necessary to serve a higher good, to avoid confusion, to prevent or postpone a crisis, or because telling a lie was easier under the circumstances than telling the truth

Critical:  Telling the truth

Funemployment:  The idea that unemployment is good because it allows a person time to spend with his family and do fun things he wouldn't be allowed to do if he was working.

Gotcha question:  Questions meant to get someone to admit to something they really don't believe.  This is generally done in two parts:  1) Most members of your staff have quit 2) So how do you think you can manage a country if you can't manage a campaign.  The assumption here is that you can't manage a country because you can't manage a campaign.  It puts you on the defense.   It's bad in that it lacks substance and is based on a fallacy.  Another method is to ask two questions, or compare two questions, and assume the answer to question one is the same as for question two.  The answer to question B is therefore a fallacy because it was formed based on unrelated information and assumptions.  These types of questions disrupt and slow down flow of trying to find real solutions.

Loaded question:  Synonym:  Leading question.  A question based on an assumption and meant to trap someone into admitting to something he didn't do.  An example is:  So, What did you do after beating your wife to death?"

Narcissist politician:  An inordinate fascination with one's self; excessive self love; selfcenteredness; smugness; a politician who knows he right; It's basically the arrogant, all knowing, never wrong politician who finds that it's best to force his views on us whether we like it or not.  It' for our own good


Moderating:  Caving


Success:  Liberals define success by how many people are on the government dole.  Conservatives define success my how many people don't rely on the government.  


Fair share:  A nice way of saying redistribution of wealth.  Example:  The rich need to pay their fair share of taxes.  


Political Correctness:  Censorship.  Preventing a person from saying or doing anything that might offend someone.  

Judicial Activism:  Rewriting law from the judicial bench.  It's interpreting laws based on your opinion and personal views rather than the laws presently at hand.  It's ignoring the Constitution. 

Judging:  Following the law.  Making sure laws are legal. 

Constitutionalist:  Someone sworn to protect and serve the Constitution, and thus the people of the United States.  It's the belief that those who write laws and judge laws are bound to the limitations set forth by the Constitution.