In the campaign season, the pure definition of “democracy” doesn’t matter, but the additives, the poisons people add to the idea of democracy, they matter. They arouse partisan appetites. That is why Democrats have to stop identifying themselves with “liberal democracy.” As anyone who reads social or public media knows, “liberal” has become poison to the American palate.

The term “liberal democracy” has become the preferred term for those alarmed by the populist appeal of  the campaign of Donald Trump.  Every politician favors democracy of some kind, but democracy now comes in flavors. You have your moderate, your conservative, your progressive,  your patriotic, your populist, and all the brands laced with additives. The “additives” are what the opposition claims are the poisoning of democracy.

For example, Republicans add to the liberal flavor terms like “radical,” welfare state,” “socialist,” “extremist,” even “fascist.”  Democrats poison the populist or conservative flavors with additives like “radical right,” “anti-democratic,” “white supremacist,” and yes, “extremist” and “fascist,” the same words used against Democrats. The additives that people use to flavor their opponents’ politics are any poison they think will turn the stomachs of voters.

According to a defining article in the Britannica, “Liberal democracy” means “a form of democracy in which the power of government is limited, and the freedom and rights of individuals are protected, by constitutionally established norms and institutions. https://www.britannica.com/topic/liberal-democracy. If you are a purist, you might think this was the definition of conservatism, because “the power of government is limited,” but the liberals are fond of the part that says, “the freedom and rights of individuals are protected,” because they believe that government should protect people from being harmed by powerful minorities.

But what “liberal democracy” means hardly matters in the campaign season, because it includes the poisonous additive  “liberal.”  No one likes to be called “liberal” anymore unless they are Bernie Sanders and his affiliates. And we know they will not be campaigning for any office outside of their contented liberal enclaves.  In national circles you might as well put a “kick me” sign on your back, if you call yourself “liberal.”

So let’s work on some re-branding of the naive proponents of “liberal democracy.” How about “Constitutional democracy”? Everybody likes the Constitution, even if they are talking about different versions (“originalist” and “pragmatic”).  That’s really the point: the Constitution serves everybody, so the liberal democrats should be talking about “Constitutional democracy.”

How about “Centrist Democracy,” because the center is the place to claim for everybody running for office. It allows you the freedom to be “fiscally conservative” and “socially liberal” or the opposite, if that’s what your flavor is.  The center is wherever the majority of voters may be.

How about “Animated Democracy,” to contrast with the tired ideas of tradition and tribalism that weigh down the slumbering Rip Van Winkles of the dusty past?  This connotation could pull in some disaffected younger voters and perhaps distract from the age of Democratic candidates. Remember, if you say it loud enough and often enough, it becomes truth by exhaustion.

How about “Spirited Democracy,” because why should the religious right control all the spiritual language? See previous comments on recruiting  younger voters. For that matter, how about “Moral Democracy,” because, Lord knows, you are not running against Sunday School teachers in the current campaign. Time to re-capture morality from those too immoral to stand up for their own principles.

How about “Uplifting Democracy,” with the subtle implication of helping the downtrodden of society. You don’t want to oversell the idea of helping the poor, but an “uplift” could support anyone who thinks they have been victimized–which is virtually everybody.

Let’s face it: anybody with a good Thesaurus can improve on “Liberal Democracy.” Start flipping the pages and find out what appeals to voters. Because it doesn’t matter what you call it, as long as it sounds good. And “liberal democracy” is not a good sound. And it’s a worse taste.  It’s “democracy” with all the bitter additives that the opposition can think of.