Same Words; Different Meanings

Marvin Olasky, who literally wrote the book on compassionate conservatism, complains that the term has largely lost its original meaning. Olasky, who also coined the term, points out that by it he meant that government would shrink as private individuals and organizations took on responsibility for American social concerns. Now, the term is frequently used to describe the reason that Republicans have busted the federal budget and accommodated themselves to an expanding welfare state.