assess vs run it up a flagpole

assess

verb
  • To impose or charge, especially as punishment for an infraction. 

  • To determine, estimate or judge the value of; to evaluate 

  • To calculate and demand (the tax money due) from a person or entity. 

run it up a flagpole

How often have the words assess and run it up a flagpole occurred in a corpus of books? (source: Google Ngram Viewer )