Peter Fuad has posted as comment #5 to this Paul Krugman post a very clever idea to improve and reframe the Democratic proposals for universal health care. In addition to improving the workability of "mandates," it co-opts the Republican language of "vouchers." Fuad points out that what is at stake is not a socialized medical delivery system but a socialized medical payment system.
Skeptic
For Krugman's comment on why Obama is unwittingly undermining the Dem dream of universal healthcare, go here. So far this has stirred up 95 comments (which I did not have the time/energy to read).