When approaching the study of public policy, it is important to recognize the paradoxes that are built in. Elected officials (aka politicians) create policy focusing on two goals. First, they want to solve a problem (the policy goal) and second, they want to preserve power (the political goal) so they can accomplish their policy goals. Examine the idea of “policy paradox”, define the paradox, and differentiate between the “market” and the “polis.” Last, how do the differences relate to the paradox of policy?