In Shakespeare's classic drama Romeo and Juliet, star-crossed protagonists from feuding families meet and fall in love. In Act II, when the impossibility of their courtship has become clear, Juliet leans out her balcony and declares to her lover "What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet." The line, of course, implies that Romeo's last name should mean nothing, and the two should be together.

Shakespeare may or may not have been right about love and roses. But what about taxes? Does that which we call a "tax," by any other name smell as sour? Apparently, Washington thinks not — if you pay attention to all the new euphemisms, you'd think Washington has given up imposing new "taxes" entirely!