Geez. In my entire life NO ONE uses the proper term “tax rates”.
I agree with you. Politicians and media people either do not know the difference between the vague “taxes”, tax revenue, and tax rates or they are trying to fool the public.
If there is one math topic that American children should be learning before algebra, it is all about percentages, including the difference between tax revenue and tax rates. The difference between gross income and net income for a business would be helpful as well.