Daily Translation

Which is closer to the truth?

The original:

House Democrats will ask the wealthiest Americans to help pay for overhauling the health care system with a $550 billion income tax increase, the chairman of the tax-writing Ways and Means Committee said Friday.

Or the translation:

House Democrats will compel, via force and the threat of punishment/imprisonment, the wealthiest Americans to help pay for overhauling the health care system with a $550 billion income tax increase, the chairman of the tax-writing Ways and Means Committee said Friday.

Asking usually implies a choice.