Of course, Blake’s plumed pen has inspired childless and pouty name calling on playgrounds for generations. But, rather than resort to petty infantile behavior and language, I suggest we use William Blake’s original, and by comparison more constructive, words to call out disseminators of deceptive misinformation (or in layman’s terms, “lies”). (Footnote: I am not calling out Rep. Wilson from South Carolina; that would only increase his funding base.)

In short, I announce the 1st Annual William Blake Awards, where we take the occasion to make special note of misleading statements that have caused us to smack our heads in disgust and say, “Sir/Madam, your trousers are alight.”

To get the process started, I nominate a recent stand out:

State Representative James 'Jim' Kerr (R-CO) – who seemed to suggest that women pay more than men for health insurance because they aren’t good enough shoppers; according to State Rep. Kerr, women’s natural affinity for shopping should make them adept enough to purchase affordable health insurance coverage.

Shocking statements from a Colorado legislator, particularly considering these facts, cited in an op-ed published by the Huffington Post:

• Gender rating has been a prohibited practice of gender discrimination in the small and large group employer-provided insurance markets since the Civil Rights Act of 1964 as confirmed by the United States Supreme Court.

Yet …

• Women are charged as much as 30 - 40% more than men for the same coverage in individual health insurance plans.

• Maternity coverage is not included in any of Colorado's individual health insurance plans.

• Under current Colorado law, a woman may pay more than a man for comparable coverage, even if she has less medical claims history.

• Women on average still earn less than men (approximate 77 cents to the dollar) and are less able to absorb the unjustified premiums increase.

Read more at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/morgan-carroll/gender-equity-in-health-i_b_283685.html

Now, I don't claim to be an expert on health insurance regulations, but I know that shopping for health insurance is not the same as shopping for a ribbed sweater at the department store. Besides, asserting that women are natural born shoppers is a statement born of nothing more than hyped, ineffective, and misleading stereotypes of women. State Representative Kerr, you may deserve two William Blake awards for this one; not only did you fail to acknowledge the impact of underwriting and insurance regulations on the costs of health insurance, but you also stooped so low, you grasped at (prejudiced) straws in the process.

Nominations for the 1st Annual William Blake Awards will be accepted through December 31, 2009, or whenever fair and unbiased health reform passes in Washington DC (whichever comes first).

To all the liars out there: Consider yourself warned.