The Lazy Language of Politics

To say that Americans are divided over politics is to give too much credit to the substantive merits of the role of ideas in the formation of public opinion and not enough to the erosion of the language through which such ideas are discussed. 

We have learned from a generation of apologists of linguistic equivocation that language possesses the ability not only to shape our view of ideas, but, for many, the ability to change the very nature of the ideas themselves.  As is evident from countless judicial opinions issued by federal courts over the last century, language can be used as a vehicle to transform ideas while simultaneously obviating the need to confront basic philosophical predicates.  It is often easier to hide behind tired old slogans than to discuss raw concepts and debate first principles.