Despite Congress’ current recess, the health care debate is still making headlines. I can’t read the NY Times, CNN, or the Huffington Post without seeing a new piece of information or perspective on the discussion.

The Wall Street Journal ran a piece yesterday that appeared to be little more than a platform for Iowa Senator Charles Grassley’s opposition to the potential government run health care option. Grassley “used the Canadian health-care system as a foil, decrying what he said were long wait times. He echoed many other Republicans” by painting a picture of Washington bureaucracy standing between people in need of care and their doctors.

The media coverage of the health care issue has been sensationalism at its worst, and I think has skewed the perception of the issues. Yes, the right wing has consolidated its problems with the legislation, and has capitalized on less-informed popular opposition, but the media has truly gone overboard with coverage of that opposition.

As of this point in the debate, I think the co-op plan seems to be the most practical, and will probably be the closest thing we can get to a solution for spiraling health care costs. The co-op plan will leave many details up to individual states to decide, which should be viewed as a positive step, so long as it doesn’t inhibit coverage across state lines. I’ll be curious to see how the story evolves in the media going forward.

[image via K3nna]