Controlling the public policy conversation today often means repeating phrases until people believe them. That’s why we talk about “narratives,” “memes” or the “echo chamber,” where everyone throws catchphrases into a blender and waits to see what spins out.

But labeling a dog a “chicken” does not make it good for soup. Precise, accurate definitions are essential to good government, so the people who are supposed to be controlling it — the public — know exactly what’s going on.