You Keep Using That Word, I Do Not Think It Means What You Think It Means

Poor old Harry Reid, he seems to have become confused once again. During some debate on some energy bill Mr. Reid decided to call supposed members of the Tea Party anarchists:

Reid (D-Nev.) said Tea Party Republicans are preventing progress on an energy efficiency bill by offering amendments on ObamaCare and other unrelated issues.

“We’re diverted totally from what this bill is about. Why? Because the anarchists have taken over,” Reid said on the Senate floor. “They’ve taken over the House and now they’ve taken over the Senate.

“People who don’t believe in government — and that’s what the Tea Party is all about — are winning, and that’s a shame.”

This isn’t the first time Mr. Reid has made this mistake. Between May or this year and now he still hasn’t picked up a dictionary to find out what the word “anarchist” actually means. The word is a combination of the greek ἀν- (an-), meaning without, and ἀρχός (archos), meaning leader or ruler. Therefore, an anarchist is somebody who opposes rulers, not just a person who disagree with your political ideology. Members of Congress create decrees and use force against anybody who disobeys. That’s what a ruler is, somebody who attempts to make you obey his or her commands through the threat of force.

Don’t get me wrong, the fact that my political philosophy is used as an insult in Washington DC pleases me. It lets me know that I’m on the right path.