Let’s go back to the roots of the language that erstwhile, wannabe “leaders” use to manipulate and attract unthinking supporters. It’s something you probably weren’t taught in English class in school (remember, you were probably working from texts approved by the Texas School Board, because they didn’t want their citizens to be too educated, don’cha know)…
There a class of words called “nominalizations.” Here are examples, to remind you of what they are, in full:
“Are you comfortable?” Comfort is in the mind of the beholder. Does “comfortable” mean “is the room temperature about right for you,” or “while sitting in that chair?” or ““with the ideas being presented?”
Or,
“Do you want to be great?” Is that “great with child,” or “superior to your fellow man?” or “capable of being a leader?” Again, “great” is in the mind of the beholder. No matter which interpretation arises in your mind, if you connect to the word, “greatness,” you’ve swallowed the whole enchilada, and you are now engaged in your own acceptance of the term.
So, when someone claims, “I want to make ‘Murica GREAT again,” do you imagine is has to do with everybody agreeing on a unifying set of outcomes? Of course not! Each listener hears their own interpretation of “Great.” And wouldn’t all of us like that? I hear “great” in that context as, “a widely-respected nation of honorable people, leading by example not warfare, concerned that ALL people are able and encouraged to realize their dreams in their own way, while harming no one.”
But, the guy to my right is interpreting it his way: “Yeah, I want those @$&%& other people to leave me alone; this Country is WHITE, b’God!” The woman on my left is interpreting it her way: “Yeah, I think everyone should be offered the same opportunities and rewards, unless they prove themselves unworthy by hating on others.” And, they each think they have the same interpretation as I have, which is different yet again. And, not asking, not inquiring about what the speaker intended by that nominalized word, “great”, we all stand up and cheer...’cause who doesn’t want to be Great!?
This the trick that deceptive leaders and pundits deploy in public. If they ever unpacked the dense content of their nominalizations, and translate what’s in their mind it into nouns and verbs, they’d be laughed out of the room. They’d lose their power to sway people to their cause. If you think they use words to inform; you are mistaken. They are the prime tool of the con-man (or -woman), the deceiver, the corrupt, wannabe politician. And, the worst nominalization of all is: Trust Me!