[Alex]

Personally, I don't care if there's a publicly managed plan. It much of the other stuff I think is important. But then, unless there is a desire to nationalize the entire health care industry rather than just mandating insurance I'm not particularly keen on government ownership.

That is, the key to me is to have the mandate, the solid floor put under what constitutes the minimal acceptable coverage, and penalties and assistance to meet it. If that's in place and successful then I think it is a relatively easy first step to introduce the idea of a public option again in a few years. And if it doesn't work out well then it wouldn't have any way.