Surveys demonstrate that Americans like specific government actions, but not the abstract notion of government intrusion
into their lives. When asked if, in general, they feel government should play a greater or lesser role in society, most
Americans usually express the view that government should "stay out of their lives, the economy, and so on. However,
when asked more specific questions regarding whether the government should help the homeless, provide assistance to
the elderly, protect patients' rights, and so on, most Americans seem to want greater government involvement. Is this
paradox a contradiction in American political thought? How might an understanding of this phenomenon affect the
strategies of politicians who advocate for more government, and of those who want less?