Curtis Bowman

Bruce Bartlett on the Legend of Margaret Thatcher

Bruce Bartlett looks at the legend of Margaret Thatcher.

Bill Clinton Makes the Case for Obama Better Than Obama Himself Ever Has

I no longer devote much of my time to following politics, sad to say. There are lots of reasons for that, but one is my lack of enthusiasm for the Democratic Party, despite the fact that I've always been a yellow dog Democrat. Too many Democrats meekly allow Republicans to ride roughshod over them. Too many Democrats fail to explain how ordinary Americans benefit from having them in office. I could go on, but that's enough for now. Anyway, it's all very discouraging.

It seems to me, although perhaps I've just missed the political boat, that the Obama administration has been especially bad at touting their genuine achievements. So along comes Bill Clinton at the Democratic National Convention to do it for them.

Take fifty minutes out of your life to watch this speech. It's no literary masterpiece that will be reprinted in the history books of the future. Clinton is no Churchill. Instead, Clinton's gift lies in his ability to explain arcane policy details to a mass audience in an easily understandable way that shows why it's important to support the Democratic Party. I'd be more enthusiastic about the Democratic Party if more Democrats would just make the effort to do what Bill Clinton does so effortlessly.

All hail the Big Dog!

The Pew Research Center on the Lost Decade of the Middle Class

A new survey from the Pew Research Center looks at how the middle class has taken it on the chin during the past decade.

Here's a video that briefly summarizes the main findings:

The complete report (PDF, 2.3 MB) makes for rather grim reading.

What the Affordable Care Act Has Done for Me

When I moved back to Texas in 2003, I had to find new health insurance. It seemed that the company I had been using in Philadelphia didn't underwrite insurance in Texas. I contacted an agent, and he steered me towards Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas. I applied and was accepted.

Because I'm a self-employed scholar, I wasn't eligible for a group plan. So I had to go with an individual plan with a deductible of $2500. Over the years the cost of this not-very-good policy has risen by roughly 150%. At my current premium of $312 a month, I'm now paying $3744 a year for my coverage.

Because I had health insurance, however mediocre, I never figured that the Affordable Care Act would make much of a difference to me. Turns out that I was wrong about that.

A few days ago I got a surprising letter from BCBSTX. Here are the important excerpts:

The Affordable Care Act requires Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX) to issue a rebate to you if BCBSTX does not spend at least 80 percent of the premiums it receives on health care services, such as doctors and hospital bills, and activities to improve health care quality, such as efforts to improve patient safety. No more than 20 percent of premiums may be spent on administrative costs such as salaries, sales, and advertising. This requirement is referred to as the "Medical Loss Ratio" standard or the "80/20 rule". The 80/20 rule in the Affordable Care Act is intended to ensure that consumers get value for their health care dollars.

[. . .]

The Medical Loss Ratio rule is calculated on a State by State basis. In Texas, BCBSTX did not meet the Medical Loss Ratio standard. In 2011, BCBSTX spent only 71.0% of a total of $1,054,029,473 in premium dollars on health care and activities to improve health care quality. Since it missed the 80 percent target by 9.0% of premiums it received, BCBSTX must rebate 9.0% of your health insurance premiums.

[. . .]

We are issuing a credit to the bank account you used to pay your premium. Your credit is $357.56.

Color me surprised. I guess that some BCBSTX executive gets one less expensive dinner in a fancy Dallas restaurant.

I must have heard about this aspect of the Affordable Care Act at some point, but I can't remember anything about it. Since this would have been a major selling point for people like me who already had health insurance, I have to wonder how hard it was pressed when the bill was winding through Congress.

Did the Obama administration simply not talk this up very much? I really can't remember. But if you can, please let me know. Go to my "about me" page to get my email address.

And if you google "medical loss ratio" for yourself, you'll get lots of hits.

David Frum on the GOP Fantasy World

Conservative heretic David Frum looks at how his party has retreated into a fantasy world.

Jonathan Chait on Liberal Disappointment

Jonathan Chait explains why liberals always feel disappointed by the presidents they elect.

Warren Buffett Thanks Uncle Sam

Warren Buffett has sent a charming thank-you note to Uncle Sam for bailing the country out of the economic crisis of 2008.

Heather MacDonald on Dinesh D’Souza’s "How Obama Thinks"

Heather MacDonald eviscerates Dinesh D’Souza’s "How Obama Thinks".

It Seems That Responsible Republican Politicians Are Becoming an Endangered Species

Joe Conason looks at the extinction of the responsible Republican politician.

Jonathan Chait Gets the Last Laugh Over Health Care Reform

Jonathan Chait gets the last laugh over health care reform.