1. When analyzing political discourse, one must distinguish between the formal meaning and the operational meaning. The formal meaning is more or less the dictionary definition of the words; the operational is the meaning of the rhetoric in practice. Consider some examples.

2. The word "antiracism." Formally, antiracism means "against racism." Who could be opposed to an ideology that is against racism? This is the trick, the subterfuge, of political rhetoric. It uses pleasant and agreeable formal meanings to disguise ugly assertions of power.

3. Operationally, "antiracism" means more or less discrimination against whites and racial preferences for non-whites. Racial quotas, for example, are justified as "antiracist." Similarly, when people argue for discrimination against whites in health care, it is "antiracist."

4. The word "diversity." Formally, diversity means "composed of different and sundry things." It often brings to mind choice. A diverse menu has many options. Similarly, a diverse political debate has many perspectives. That sounds great. But, it's a disguise.

5. Operationally, "diversity" means more minorities and fewer white people. This is why it's diverse to have a group of 12 black and hispanic men who are all Democrats, but homogenous to have 12 white men and women who range from anarchist to reactionary.

6. The phrase "black lives matter." Formally, it means that black lives are important--equally important as other human lives. Who could oppose that? Of course black lives are important. But this is a veneer. And it hides a rather less popular political project.

7. Operationally, "black lives matter" means a view that America is pervasively racist and that we need radical police reform, among other things, to create a more equitable society. This is why BLM would quickly reject me despite that I think black lives matter.

8. The word "feminism." Formally, it means something like "the promotion of women's rights based on the moral equality of the sexes." Again, who could possibly believe that the sexes are not morally equal and therefore deserving of equal treatment under the law?

9. Operationally, "feminism" means the belief that the US is pervasively misogynistic and that most disparities between men and women are causes by sexism, not intrinsic differences. And it is used to justify preferences for women over men.

10. The word "racist." Formally, racist means "somebody who advocates different legal treatment of individuals based solely on their racial ancestry." That is, of course, a terrible thing to advocate. It's obvious why people don't like to be called "racist."

11. Operationally, "racist" means "anybody who promotes policies or theories that are racially relevant and that contradict progressive preferences." So, supporting limited immigration is racist. Opposing affirmative action, ironically, is racist.

12. The same could of course be said about words such as "sexist," "Islamophobe," "transphobe," "misogynist," "nativist," and on and on. These words have become synonyms for disagreeing with the progressive status quo.

13. The purpose therefore of the formal meaning is to create widespread consent for the pursuit of potentially controversial and divisive political goals. And importantly to make dissent appear wholly illegitimate.

14. If you oppose racial preferences, for example, then "antiracists" will argue that you are opposing antiracism! And that must mean that you are racist. Or they will say that you are opposing diversity. And how could anybody oppose our country's "greatest strength."

15. This makes political debate nearly impossible because if you oppose some progressive policy or another, then you are called a "racist," a "sexist," a "transphobe," or some other kind of parochial and blinkered bigot. This is the goal. It is not to enlighten; It is to obscure.

16. When debate becomes impossible, then political actors can dismiss opponents as immoral barbarians and they can pursue their goals without the impediments of argument or evidence. Truth is a casualty to power.

17. Behind the formal meaning of political rhetoric, thus, one should search for the concrete political goals. The pleasantly painted veil of rhetoric is generally a disguise for immediate group interests. Discover those and the rhetoric becomes more explicable.