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As we ponder the important issues of our times, those of us who pay attention to such matters realize that our leaders speak in a peculiar cant, a jargon of neologisms and bizarre uses of familiar terms. They often employ symbolic objects to bond with their adherents. As a service, I will attempt to explicate some of the more popular phrases and symbols.

Prevarication- Any promise made by a politician.

Job Creators- A description generally applied to the wealthier segments of society with the implication that, if these financially well-off parties are not unduly burdened with Federal taxes, they will invest in the creation of businesses which would lead to increased hiring. This is, of course, a fallacy: The creation of businesses most often follows the need to satisfy a demand.  Therefore, it is the consuming segments of society that are truly the job creators. 

Note: I do make exception for those businesses whose innovations create new demands. Unfortunately, in many cases - the iPhone being a good example-the jobs created are mostly off-shore.

Free Market-  A feature of an economy that permits the exchange of goods and services with little or no regulation by the government. Think of it as Ultimate Fighting without a referee.  Unrestrained by rules except the law of supply and demand, the market is described by proponents as the most efficient method of allocating capital and meeting demand. In theory, that is. In reality. actors in the market work very hard at constraining freedom and eliminating the competition, while simultaneously seeking advantages from the very government they purport to despise. In this view of "free", the role of government is to help businesses fend off competitors while granting the major players the liberty to plunder at will.  When some politician mouths the words "free market", I can picture Brian Dennehy in the classic Western, "Silverado", pulling open his coat to show his badge.A sweet deal, indeed.  "Fox-in-the-henhouse market" is a more appropriate phrase. For examples, see oil leases, depletion allowances, sugar, ethanol, farm subsidies, the pharmaceutical industry, patent law, copyrights, telecommunications...

Public Servant- When applied to a member of Congress, an oxymoron.

American Flag Lapel Pin- A talisman that indicates the motivation of the wearer in expounding any policy, however inane, is never to be questioned.

Support the Troops- Catch-all phrase that includes never questioning US military policy while conveniently ignoring the plight of the men and women who do the fighting. Under no circumstances does the phrase encompass the assurance that the folks who make these sacrifices will receive the best treatment our society can muster when they return home.

The Founders- A group of gods and goddesses who reside on Mount Olympus.... Err, my bad... I meant, a group of mostly rich, white  guys, many of whom owned slaves, who read a lot and had some really cool ideas about government.  After rebelling against their colonial masters, they had the space to try an experiment. Many of their ideas were vague and are subject to wild interpretations even to this very day.

Scientific- Adjective. When used by a member of Congress, it means the word or principle it describes varies in meaning according to the religious beliefs and campaign-contributing constituencies of that member. It is never to be used in conjunction with the word "evidence".

National Debt- A moral outrage, the equivilent of Adam allowing himself to join in congress with Eve. No, not that Congress.