It's not about using them. It's about being willing to show them, and think about them.
It's like the tax increases people like Krugman like to push. Somehow nobody wants to talk about which taxes, which brackets, and how much revenue will be raised.
No, we talk about "austerity," "government investment," and other floating terms that hopefully won't disturb those dangerous numbers lurking under the table.
"The Rich" is another one of those useful floating terms. Everyone interprets it as "not me."
In California, they've been forced to admit that they've defined "millionaire" as someone with an income over $250,000. Brown explains this by pointing out that saving up for four years would make you a millionaire. I did not make that up.