There is a notorious clip from a speech by Obama to a gathering of union thugs several years ago, in which he states precisely this as his long term objective. He states he is in favor of a "one-payer" system, but recognizes it may take a number of years to achieve.
Exactly what he is telling people now, that the current monstrosity is "just the beginning" which will end with government-controlled health care, rationing, abandonment of serious medical research, and death panels run by anonymous bureacrats who will cut treatment to the elderly and chronically disabled--the "useless eaters" of the New Reich.
“government-controlled health care”
It’s always been about expanding government control, not health care. Good post.