Time and again, 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? , is it possible to have government that is less involved in our daily lives yet still provides a variety of programs and services? How might an understanding of this phenomenon affect the strategies of politicians who advocate for more government, and of those who want less? Question 2: Most states do not restore felons’ right to vote after the completion of their sentences. Given the racial disparities in the American criminal justice system (e.g., 1 in 13 African Americans have lost their right to vote due to felon disenfranchisement, as compared to 1 in 56 non-Black voters, according to the Sentencing Project 2020), do you think states should or should not restore felons’ right to vote? Should citizens lose the right to vote in certain circumstances, or should this right be absolute and never taken away? Explain your answer. How might felon disenfranchisement laws impact a community’s willingness to vote in general?
