American history may be thought of as a series of conflicts between two opposing American impulses:protecting individual liberty and unifying as a nation. For instance, social programs like Medicare and Social Security have brought health care and financial relief to many, but opponents have argued that they come at too high a cost in taxes. It seems that, for Americans, a better life and the protection of one's own welfare are desires in constant conversation. What is the main idea of this paragraph?

Which of the following statements about culture and self-esteem is the most accurate? people from western cultures are more likely to say or do things to enhance other people's self-esteem (relative to people from asian cultures). the japanese praise each other for their achievements more often than americans do. people from asian cultures generally feel worse about themselves than people from western cultures. americans utter many more self-complimentary statements during conversations (relative to japanese individuals).