I once read a book on the socio-political evolution of America, and one phrase therein has always stayed with me -- "Americans are conservative in general, and liberal in particular." As I recall, the author went on to say that Americans generally believe that less government is better and that government should tax and spend less, except when it comes to highways, food safety, law enforcement, clean water, sewage systems, fire protection, bank deposit insurance, access to foreign markets, airline standards..... well, you get the picture.

I call it the principle of shifting principles.