A Question For American Readers

Whenever I take a gander at the US news sites, the debate over giving a public option for health care seems to be filtering into every last piece of news (even on a debate about saving the poor ol' rickety Hoan Bridge).

Personally, I'm a bit befuddled by it.

Is the administration advocating a system similar to one down here in Australia where everyone pays for a health care scheme, and you get a tax incentive for going private?

Or is it another thing altogether?

Believe it or not, the only US news of note involves celebrity murders. (Well, Australia lost to England at Cricket, the news is in national mourning.)