Beg a the Queation

Many English speakers use "begs the question" to mean "raises the question," or "impels the question," and follow that phrase with the question raised,[12] for example, "this year's deficit is half a trillion dollars, which begs the question: how are we ever going to balance the budget?" Many philosophers and grammarians deem such usage incorrect.[13][14] 


 Because of shifts in usage in both Latin and English over the centuries, the relationship of the literal expression to its intended meaning is unintelligible and therefore it is now "such a confusing way to say it that only a few pedants understand the phrase."

So it's fair to say, that since the phrase is always followed by the question raised, and since only a few pedants understand the phrase to mean postulate (assume)  not petition (beg) the question, the newer usage is fine. And handy. Begs has more force than assumes. It should replace the old mistranslation. Philosophers should call it assuming the question. It was never translated correctly, and that's in the pedants court, not the modern user, which includes the New York Times and others.