Progressive people have firm principles. Progressive ideas are deeply moral. But conservatives are easily able to make an exclusive claim to principle and morality because they have something that progressives lack: the language to make their values clear and compelling in every issue they discuss.

This glossary is my attempt to propose the beginnings of a progressive lexicon. The words I propose are true to my beliefs and values. They are designed to effectively stop right-wing spin in its tracks. They are ways to use progressive values to call a spade a spade.

Read the full Introduction to the Dictionary

Translations

Many issues in American political discussion are currently defined by words that have been created to strengthen a conservative view of the world. The words below describe those same issues using forward-thinking values. They can redefine the natural direction of the discussions in which they are used. They are meant to be issue-defining frames that help establish deep progressive frames.

Criminal (alt: Extremist criminal, Terror criminal)

Use in place of: Terrorist

Free and fair market

Use in place of: Free market (e.g., to improve competition)

Lawless market

Use in place of: Free market (to let wealthy people and
organizations do whatever they want)

Occupation of Iraq

Use in place of: Iraq war

Investments

Use in place of: Taxes

Progressive

Use in place of: Liberal

Government of the people (by the people, and for the people) (alt: Useful government, Effective government)

Use in place of: Small government

Lincoln said that the American government and the American people are the same thing. Reagan said "Government is the problem". Lincoln should win that shouting match. Why don't we hear his words more often than Reagan's?

Grownup foreign policy

Use in place of: Tough foreign policy

Military commander in chief (alt: Chief military commander)

Use in place of: Commander in chief (to describe the president)

Rallying cries

Words to repeat. These words use values that are at the core
of progressive government. Use them whenever you can.

• Government of the people, by the people and for the people

  The true idea of American government.

• Government of laws (alt: Rule of law, Nation of laws)

  See also: Lawlessness

Help build the dictionary!

These are issues about which progressives need to communicate better. For a lot of the issues below, I can't even think of a way to name them except using conservative-framed words. So I need your help! If you have an idea of what words can place one of these issues in an effective progressive frame, please leave a comment on the relevant page. When we find words that work for that issue, I'll add them to the lists above.

If there are any words that you'd like to see added to this section, please click the "add new comment" link at the bottom of this dictionary.

• Abortion -- I believe this is really a medical rights issue. Is that the best frame to support progressive values for this issue? If so, what words should we use to evoke it?
• Moral relativism -- it just occurred to me that we never hear the term "moral absolutism". Would using that phrase be a good way to make clear the obstinacy of conservatives who trot out this old phrase any time somebody suggests looking at things from a different perspective?
• Moralizing -- I just used this word in a post over at Rockridge Nation and realized that it hits a lot about what's wrong with conservative bullying bang on the head. In spite of that, I can't think of the last time I heard it used in American political dialogue. I can't think of any particular uses for it though (or for moralizing minority, which I also like). Can anybody think of a few issues that could use this one?