Glossary

Progressives include Democratic Socialists, Justice Democrats, etc. The purity test includes but is not limited to not taking any PAC money or large individual donations, having a consistent record on legislation and policies supporting middle and low income people. They demand immediate and complete reform on policies.

Democrats are usually in favor of protecting Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security for which they continue to fight. They agree that many things need to be reformed, however they say those goals can only be achieved through "incremental change," a euphemism for "Trickle-Down" which never comes to fruition.

DINOs Typically put on a liberal show and work hard to appear progressive and act like they support the poor, down-trodden, infirm or otherwise marginalized people, but their legislative voting record or past behavior shows they are in politics for self-service. They often vote with RINOs on self-serving legislation. They work to feather their own post-political nests and usually participate in revolving door politics, becoming corporate lobbyists or getting on the board of directors at some corporation for which they did favors while they served in public office.

RINOs are accused of being liberal Republicans who often join DINOs on voting for certain legislation that serves themselves and their donors more than it serves their voting constituents. They mostly campaign on fear and identity politics, sticking to campaign topics about policies that never seem to change. They attack journalists, immigrants, welfare recipients, LBGTQ, abortion, gun control, taxes and the government.

Republicans want to privatize Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, The Veterans Administration and Public Education. They say that the private sector is much better equipped to handle such tasks, so they debate the Democrats and try to pass related legislation but nothing ever seems to come of it. Then they go out to dinner with their opponents and clink their drinks, discussing the rhetoric.

Conservatives strive to limit government's influence on the lives of citizens. They include Libertarians, The Tea Party and many other groups struggling against Establishment politics from the far right. They see regulations and taxation as extremely stifling and believe in survival of the fittest.

Skeleton in the closet denotes hypocrisy or past conduct that potentially threatens political chances . Usually a past action or policy position that is too recent to accept that someone has changed their position. Many people with good ideas don't have political aspirations because of their pasts, but then there are many people whose egos are so inflamed with narcissism they don't care what anyone thinks or they actually believe that what scandals they had in the past were normal, like "boys will be boys," etc.

Either heavily influenced by the donor class or a source of financial political influence. Special Interests which seek to influence politics to their own ends, usually against the interests of the voters.