"the "public option" being just a step toward total government control"
Just a quick point on "total government control." Even a single payer system is not total government control because doctors are not government employees. The medical relationship is between the doctor and the patient. Most doctors I've talked to say they have never had any interference in treatment from Medicare, but get it constantly from insurance companies.
As long as there are private doctors there will never be true socialized health care.