The latest Wall Street Journal/NBC News Poll, released on Friday, had a question with a direct bearing on the issue that Ramesh discussed in his excellent Time piece: the fact that as employer-based system of health insurance continues to erode, the two major parties are articulating starkly different policy responses. Most Republicans are arguing for reforms that essentially make health insurance more like other forms of insurance, structured as long-term or automatically renewable personal contracts between subscribers and insurers to cover major, unforeseen expenses. Most Democrats are arguing for mandated universal coverage, in the long run likely to devolve into a single-payer plan similar to that in Canada or Britain.

The poll gave respondents a clear choice:

“When it comes to the issue of health care, which of the following two options would you prefer to help cover those without health insurance?
Option A: Requiring all Americans to have health insurance, with the federal government helping pay for health insurance for low-income families.
Option B: Providing health savings accounts and tax credits to help individuals and employers purchase health insurance.”

Respondents preferred Option B, but by a relatively narrow 49-40 margin. This debate has only just begun.