An example of why a public option would be nice in the United States

That's a fair point, but health care (and welfare as we know it) weren't a part of what they intended, or they would have done it themselves.

Come on Steve, very early US history so you should get this.
When did the US first set up government run medical services with health cover for the welfare of the people/state?
You might have a popint on the extension of that to all citizens but that itself is countered by the fact the country and taxpayer have to do it anyway if the extension isn't there.