Why Do Politics Use Abstract Terms?

Since the creation of the first language words have been used to signify our wants and needs. Words today have many different meanings and are used in abstract ways. “An abstract term is like a box with a false bottom; you may put in it what ideas you please, and take them out again without being observed (Tocqueville).” The first part of this quote is talking about how words are used to trick people into believing something or to tell a lie (“false bottom”). The word “ideas” in this quote means a phrase or word and the phrase “take them out again without being observed” means that you could contradict yourself or go against what you just said and everyone will accept it because they don’t want to look into it. This use of abstract terms are most commonly seen in the political world of debates and writing.
Politics is one of the biggest users of abstract terms. When politicians are debating they often use words when they don’t need to be used and add new meanings to words as they please. In the 2016 Presidential debate Donald Trump was asked about Hillary Clinton’s looks and he responded with the word “stamina”. In this
Abstract terms have become very common in every nation and are used everyday by politicians. People have just accepted it and never thought about questioning the use of abstract terms. These terms are used to tell lies, get businesses what they want, or just to give themselves some room to work with if they ever get into trouble. Abstract terms have become one of the main ways of communicating and will continue to be, until we decide to get to start questioning our politics or politicians for using these type of terms. Until then these abstract terms will continue to be part of our lives and be our main form of