Ideology in America. Christopher Ellis, James A. Stimson - Paperbackby Christopher Ellis (Author), James A. Stimson (Author) Public opinion in the United States contains a paradox. The American public is symbolically conservative: it cherishes the symbols of conservatism and is more likely to identify as conservative than as liberal. Yet at the same time, it is operationally liberal, wanting government to do and spend more to solve a variety of social problems. This book focuses on understanding this contradiction. It