Webster’s II New Riverside Dictionary has three definitions for the adjective “corrupt:” 1) evil, depraved; 2) open to bribery, dishonest; and 3) rotting, putrid, not pure. When speaking of corrupt politicians, I’ve assumed definitions 1 and 2. I have not acknowledged that when Trump voters speak of corrupt politicians, they seem to be thinking in terms of the visceral definition 3. For instance, when applying it unfairly and inaccurately to Barack Obama. 

So now whenever I might have a conversation with a Trump supporter (hard to understand how they can still exist in December 2018) I’ll know that one reason we may not be communicating is that some of the words we use have various meanings. I guess if I said that Trump was rotten and putrid they might also think I was accusing him of being corrupt. 

But what I mostly want to say is that Trump has proven to be a lying, bribing, bribe-taking, thieving, heartless, treasonous, (OK my conservative friends, I give up!) putrid con man draft dodger. So language evolves and before refrigeration, uneaten food could get putrid and what this meant has been applied to people that are actually depraved and dishonest. 

Jeffrey Kulo

Ledyard