The American Spectator : The Spectacle Blog : Chart Reading Comprehension

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Paul Krugman writes that Republican politicians who picked up on the Philip Klein's report that the CBO analysis concludes that the Senate health care bill will raise premiums "suffer from reading comprehension. [sic]"

Krugman then reproduces a chart made by MIT economist Jonathan Gruber, which shows declines in the cost of premiums for plans purchased in the individual market, as evidence that today's CBO report shows the opposite of what Philip Klein and Republican politicians say it does.

One problem: The Gruber chart Krugman produces is dated November 27th (pdf). The CBO report came out, to repeat, today, the 30th (pdf). Obviously the Gruber analysis referred to the earlier CBO analysis (pdf), not today's.

Krugman is badly misrepresenting today's CBO report, because it contains bad news for Democrats.

View all comments (3) | Leave a comment

Bugler| 11.30.09 @ 6:20PM

Don't mind Krugman--he's drunk.

richard provance| 12.2.09 @ 3:52PM

The recession is creating both hardship and opportunity. Those who recognize the opportunity will use this time of uncertainty and high unemployment to improve their marketability. Our collective brainpower is a huge untapped resource, especially among members of minorities. Perhaps with a minority President, who is well educated, other minorities will begin to do what it takes to get the education that the best jobs of the future will demand. Richard Provance, thelearningbooth.com