As the health care reform debate heats up, I'm finding that the media is bombarding us all with issue advertisements taking one side of the issue or another. Listening to the many lies being told by various sides, it is no wonder this is such a difficult issue for most people.

Currently, anyone can air or publish anything they want, even if it isn't particularly truthful. All they need do is couch it in terms of “opinion,” and pretty much anything goes. Health care is hardly the only area being targeted right now, but it is the latest in a slew of reprehensible lies and distortions intended to promote a particular world view that harms many while benefiting few.

Politicians, as we all know, regularly lie. It's like second nature to them. They make promises to fringe groups, to majority groups, to special interests, etc. They even lie about themselves and each other. It shows up in sound bites intended to have a high emotional impact and sway the voter to their side.

Commercial advertisers have also been lying through their teeth as well, making false claims about products and services designed to do one thing: get you to buy something you wouldn't if you knew the truth.

So, here's the questions:

Should we push for a law that requires that all advertising be at least reasonably truthful? How should it be applied, who should be covered, and how far should the penalties go? Should media publishers and broadcasters be held responsible for knowingly airing false advertisements? Does free speech and freedom of the press include the right to knowingly publish or broadcast lies?