• “Obamacare is socialism.” Tell Wall Street. Consider the stock price of WellPoint (Anthem), the purported health insurance company, which should be called “CashPoint.” If Obamacare is red as rare steak, WellPoint stock should be in the basement. WellPoint common shares closed on Wednesday at $64.38; on the same date in 2009, the shares closed at $37.97. Same goes for UnitedHealth (Unison). UNH closed Wednesday at $32.67; same day in 2009, it closed at $20.93.
• “Obamacare is a tyrannical takeover of the rights of Ohio — and the other 49 states.” Dust off your history books. In 1983, Ohio voters refused to raise the minimum age for consuming beer to 21; more than 1.9 million “no” votes (59 percent) swamped 1.39 million “yes” votes (41 percent). Yet today, Ohio’s minimum drinking age for all alcoholic beverages is 21. Hmm. How can that be?
Easy: In July 1984, that great “conservative,” President Ronald Reagan, gladly signed a bill passed by Congress that withheld federal highway construction funds from states that allowed people younger than age 21 to drink. “This problem,” Reagan said, “is bigger than the individual states.” So much for the crystal-clear vote of the people of Ohio. Anyone care to sue?
• “But ... Obamacare is still socialism.” No, this is: Look at your Ohio real-estate tax bill. If you own the house you live in, the state of Ohio — meaning, anyone who pays Ohio’s sales tax or income tax — is paying 12.5 cents of every $1 of your property tax bill.
That also means that every taxpayer (including renters) is helping pay the property tax levied on the homes of, say, Cleveland Browns owner Randy Lerner (worth $960 million, according to Forbes); of Limited Brands’ Leslie H. Wexner, an Ohio State trustee (worth $2 billion, Forbes says); and of Carl H. Lindner Jr. (United Dairy Farmers/Great American Insurance) and his family (which is worth $1.7 billion, Forbes reported).
Now that’s socialism (except Ohio calls it “a tax rollback”).
• Finally, some readers mistook last week’s point about Democratic Gov. George C. Wallace’s attempt in the 1960s to “interpose” Alabama against federal civil rights laws. That was NOT an attempt to tar the foes of ObamaCare with racial prejudice. Instead, was a reminder that no state government is able to block ObamaCare. Anyone who thinks otherwise is living in the past — or in a fantasy world.
Who you gonna call about utility company rates, service?
Many readers have asked how they can gripe to Columbus about the rates and “service” of FirstEnergy; American Electric Power; or Dayton Power and Light.
The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio’s toll-free consumer number is (800) 686-7826. The toll-free number for the Ohio Consumers’ Counsel, which represents residential utility ratepayers, is (877) 742-5622. Don’t be afraid to speak up for yourself; the utilities aren’t.
As of Friday, American Electric Power had eight Columbus lobbyists; Dayton Power and Light had five; FirstEnergy had 11. Your lobbyists are supposed to be the 132 members of the legislature. In theory.
Thomas Suddes is an adjunct assistant professor at Ohio University. Send e-mail to tsuddes@gmail.com.