Co-ops = Public Option = Single Payer

Knowing Americans would reject the idea of a " single payer" government health care system, Democrats began calling their plan a "public option." Now that Americans have rejected that idea too, Democrats are peddling another proposal called health care "cooperatives."

Unfortunately, these federally-backed co-ops are nothing more than a public option by another name. Washington will set up and subsidize them so private health plans are squeezed out of the marketplace. Then, like Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the costs will catch up with these government-sponsored entities and Congress will tell us they are "too big to fail" and must be nationalized.

Some Democrats are willing to admit that co-ops are the same as a public option. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) said earlier this month, "We're going to have some type of public option, call it 'co-op,' call it what you want."

Some Democrats are also willing to admit the public option is the same as a single payer system. Congressman Barney Frank (D-MA) said this week, " I think if we get a good public option it could lead to single payer, and that's the best way to reach single payer."

It's becoming clear - no matter what name Democrats put on it, all of their ideas lead to a government takeover of our health care system.