In Chinese the same “word” may have four different meanings – depending on the tone of voice. In English a “sound” may have different meanings, depending on the context or the spelling.

Fair-minded reporters, pundits, and politicians should use words and phrases in ways that are understandable and fair. We often talk past each other because we use different language even if we all speak or write English.

Corruption

Black’s Law Dictionary (9th Ed.) (2009)

1. “Depravity, perversion, or taint; an impairment of integrity, virtue, or moral principle; esp., the impairment of a public official’s duties by bribery.”
   • “The word ‘corruption’ indicates impurity of debasement and when found in the criminal law it means depravity or gross impropriety.”
2. “The act of doing something with an intent to give some advantage inconsistent with official duty and the rights of others; a fiduciary’s or official’s use of a station or office to procure some benefit either personally or for someone else, contrary to the rights of others.”

Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary (2024)

• dishonest or illegal behavior especially by powerful people (such as government officials or police officers) : depravity
• inducement to wrong by improper or unlawful means (such as bribery)
  • the corruption of government officials
• a departure from the original or from what is pure or correct
  • the corruption of a text
  • the corruption of computer files
• decay, decomposition
  • the corruption of a carcass

These are very different meanings of the word “corruption.” The most obvious meaning includes bribery, whether for money or another benefit to an official to do (or not) something. Other meanings imply someone or something is bad or wrong, e.g., the corruption of a carcass or corruption of computer files.

When an influencer states that an official or system is “corrupt,” the hearer or reader does not know what is being said. She may think she knows. That might be totally different than what was intended by the influencer. We often hear that someone is corrupt when the speaker or writer might have meant that the person is bad, inefficient or useless.

Liberal, Conservative, Progressive

These terms shift meaning with the times.

Liberal

Liberal, Black’s Law Dictionary (9th Ed.) (2009)

liberal, adj.

1. (Of a condition, state, opinion) not restricted; expansive; tolerant
   • liberal policy
2. (Of a person or entity) opposed to conservatism; advocating expansive freedoms and individual expression
   • liberal policy
3. (Of an interpretation, construction) not strict or literal; loose
   • a liberal reading of the statue

Liberal, Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary (2024)

• a : inclined to be open to ideas and ways of behaving that are not conventional or traditional : broad-minded, tolerant
  • My father is more liberal and loving than twenty fathers combined . . .
  • Europeans generally have more liberal attitudes toward sex than Americans . . .
• b : of, relating to, or favoring a philosophy of liberalism. . . .especially political liberalism and often also social liberalism
  • a liberal Democrat in a family of conservative Republicans pushing for liberal reforms
• c : of or constituting a political party advocating or associated with the principles of political liberalism
  • the Liberal Party of Canada
  • the Liberal Party of New York
• relating to economic liberalism
  • They were tethered to classically liberal dogmas on the primacy of the market

Conservative

Conservative (adj.), Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary (2024)

• a : of, relating to, or favoring a philosophy of conservatism, especially political conservatism . . . and … social conservatism
  • a conservative newspaper columnist
  • a liberal Democrat who married a conservative Republican conservative elements opposed to the reforms
• b : . . . a political party professing the principles of conservatism: or . . . a country’s Conservative party
  • the Conservative Party of Canada
• a : tending or inclined to maintain existing views, conditions, or institutions : traditional
  • Hunters also tend to be conservative—not just politically, but skeptical of change . . .
• b : marked by moderation or caution
  • One conservative estimate of the number of butterflies at a single site in Mexico was 14.25 million.
• c : a person who adheres to traditional methods or views
  • a conservative in dress and manner

Progressive

Progressive (n.), Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary (2024)

• someone who is progressive: such as
  • an adherent or advocate of the philosophy of political progressivism: someone who advocates for or values the advancement of the public good through government action
  • a member of a Progressive political party
• a person who favors a progressive educational theory or doctrine

You often cannot tell what is meant. Ronald Reagan was the iconic conservative of the 1980s. He would have been called a liberal 150 years earlier. His favorite read was National Review, founded by Bill Buckley in the 1950’s. It became the standard conservative newsmagazine in the 60’s. The Republican National Committee Platform of 2024 would not have been recognized as conservative by Ronald Reagan or Bill Buckley.

Which principles are conserved? Are isolationism and protectionism conservative, liberal or what? For liberals and progressives is “Wokeism” tolerant, expanding individual freedom and expression, or just the opposite?

The press often uses “far right” or “far left” as if political positions are on a linear spectrum. The “far left” and the “far right” have a lot more in common than they have with those who used to be labeled “conservative” or “liberal.”

Legalize v. Decriminalize

Legalize

Legalize, Black’s Law Dictionary (9th Ed.) (2009)
legalize, vb.
To make lawful; to authorize or justify by legal sanction

Legalize, Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary (2024)
To make legal
especially : to give legal validity or sanction to

Decriminalize

Decriminalization, Black’s Law Dictionary (9th Edition) (2009)
decriminalization, n. (1945) The legislative act or process of legalizing an illegal act many doctors seek the decriminalization of euthanasia.

Decriminalize (v.), Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary (2024)
to remove or reduce the criminal classification or status of
especially : to repeal a strict ban on while keeping under some form of regulation
decriminalize the possession of marijuana

The law clearly recognizes a distinction. The vast majority of our law is civil, not criminal. Most influencers and most voters fail to make the distinction. A criminal proceeding requires proof beyond a reasonable doubt and a unanimous jury to determine guilt. The criminal law is not very effective in dealing with the vast majority of conflicts.

It is not only voters who are confused. We have a Supreme Court Justice who won by 734 votes out of 5.5 million votes cast. She and her acolytes spent millions preying upon the inability of voters to make this distinction. https://paulstam.info/how-justice-allison-riggs-took-the-lead-in-the-vote-count/

DEAR READERS

SEND your nomination of words that confuse policy to paulstam@stamlawfirm.com.

The author spent 16 years in the NC House, the last ten as minority leader, majority leader and then Speaker pro tem.