Navigating an era of post-binary political labeling

The traditional ways of labeling a political idea or opponent are giving way to a less binary approach. (Getty Images)

I best watch my language, because the world, as it has for a couple millennia, is changing once again. And the words and tools by which we both described and navigated yesterday may not be accurate or effective tomorrow.

I was reminded of this syntactic phenomenon last week after Nebraska State Sen. John Cavanaugh of Omaha announced his candidacy for the U.S. House in the state’s 2nd Congressional District.

I’ll digress for a moment to remind you that Cavanaugh wants a gig in Congress, the august, albeit temporarily paralyzed body that — aside from expressing its official disapproval 11 times — has passed exactly three pieces of legislation in five months, according to