Exhausted Words: Defined

Activist Judges

Judicial officers carrying out their Constitutional responsibility to provide checks and balances to the legislative and executive branches of government.

Judicial officers whose decisions are guided by personal beliefs rather than strict interpretation of the letter of the law—or the word of God.

Class Warfare

The ongoing struggle for power against entrenched social or economic classes (especially between capitalists and the proletariat classes).

Blaming the accomplishment, wealth and solidarity of those at the top of the social hierarchy for the problems at the bottom.

Cut and Run

Moving out of the city by people who don't like their neighbors or the public schools.

Abandoning our allies by people who don't have the stomach for a fight to defend our democratic principles.

Entitlement

The right to receive a payment or benefit, such as a pension, health care or government assistance. Often obtained through collective bargaining or legislation.

A special payment or benefit delivered to an unworthy group, without regard for its financial contribution or moral fitness.

Logging

Deforestation of wilderness.

Jobs in depressed areas.

Quagmire

A battleground or military position lacking solid footing and options for getting out. First applied to the US presence in Vietnam.

A term applied to any prolonged military action by its opponents, particularly those lacking the will to see a fight to its just conclusion.

Quotas

Goals for preferential treatment toward women and minorities in business and education to redress the effects of past discrimination.

Government-mandated discrimination that discounts superiority of whites, penalizes individual initiative and ignores progress made by women and minorities.

Special Interests

A group seeking to influence policy— typically relief from taxes or government regulation. E.g., Energy, timber, insurance and pharmaceutical companies, plus the NRA, anti-tax groups and individuals making more than $1 million per year.

A group seeking to influence policy— typically to direct government funding or enforcement. E.g., Unions, blacks, environmentalists, trial lawyers, the AARP, welfare recipients and anyone making the minimum wage or less.

Tax Relief

A tax cut justified on the basis of removing a burden from the middle class but disproportionately benefiting the wealthy.

Any measure that lessens the pain or distress associated with paying taxes. Derived from the metaphor of taxation as a disease.

Trial Lawyers

Attorneys who will represent individuals who have been harmed and have not received satisfaction, as distinct from tax attorneys, patent lawyers and corporate attorneys who are responsible for most of the litigation in our courts.

Parasitic attorneys whose frivolous lawsuits are responsible for increasing the cost of business to ruinous levels—particularly for pharmaceutical companies, healthcare and asbetos manufacturers—and whose campaign contributions to Democractic legislators help perpetuate big government.