The following is an excerpt from OpinionJournal.com’s “Best of the Web” written by the editor, James Taranto.

NOTE: James Taranto is on vacation.  The excerpt below is from the September 18, 2009 BOTW archives.

Reuterville or Bizarro World
From Reuters:

If U.S. health reform efforts lead to higher costs for employers, employees may end up bearing the brunt, according to a new survey.

Employers will not absorb higher costs, choosing instead either to reduce benefits, lower salaries or cut jobs, the survey from professional services firm Towers Perrin said on Thursday.

Eighty-seven percent of employers said they were very likely or likely to cut benefits if reform leads to higher costs. Only 11 percent said they would accept lower profits.

“They simply don’t have money and margins today to absorb additional healthcare costs,” said Dave Osterndorf, chief health actuary at Towers Perrin.

The headline reads: “U.S. Employers Will Defray Health Reform Costs: Survey.” Is it really possible that the editors at Reuters don’t know what defray means?

For more “Best of the Web” click here and look for the “Best of the Web Today” link in the middle column below “Today’s Columnists.