It's not unusual for politicians of both parties to sometimes use the word "revenue" instead of "taxes" when discussing how government is funded. But have you noticed during the debate on increasing the United States' debt limit how some politicians who want to "raise taxes" have been extra careful to try to avoid putting it in those words?
President Barack Obama, for instance, said one plan in Congress was likely to produce "not enough revenue." By "revenue," of course, he meant "taxes."
Talking about "more revenue," it seems, is all the rage; discussing "higher taxes" is out of fashion -- though they mean the same thing.
Ironically, supporters of increasing your taxes claim that the American people favor higher taxes to solve the debt crisis. But if that's so, why do the president and other leaders in Washington shy away from saying, "We want to raise your taxes," and use the term "revenue increases"?
Whether or not they will acknowledge it, our leaders must realize that higher taxes just aren't popular.