If You're not a Socialist, You're a Monster

Neil Irwin believes that if you spend more than what he deems appropriate on a bottle of wine (apparently it only applies to goods that are bought and sold second-hand for some reason).

If you are about to drink a $3,500 bottle of wine, you have to think for just a minute about this option instead: Drink a $100 bottle of wine that is about as good, but from a less renowned chateau. And deploy the other $3,400 to pay for malaria-preventing mosquito nets in Africa.

What makes $100 an acceptable amount? I have no idea. I guess it's because I'm not as morally developed as Neil Irwin.

If the person who drinks a $3,500 bottle of wine also donates $1 million to charity is he still a monster? I guess so, because that's what Neil Irwin said. I'm glad we have his clear and irrefutable arguments to help us understand what's right and wrong.

How the Media Deceive

Sarah Kliff's title is a little more neutral, but if you read this story, and think about it, it's clear that one title is misleading and the other is accurate. It's true that both title's are technically correct, but one leaves out relevant information (the fact that Maryland's rates are already pretty low), and, therefore, provides no information about how Obamacare will affect premiums.

I would've given the paper a pass if it said something like "Rates could fall by as much as X %".