It's not really a contradiction

From a Guardian article via The Hindu:

Polls are relatively straightforward. When compiled reliably they are supposed to tell a story in digits. That story may be contradictory (people say they want more social services and less tax)...

It's not a contradiction because there are ways to fund social services through means other than taxation. I haven't thought this through, but what about the government competing with private companies by providing services, and using all the profits to fund social programs? They can also make money (which they do already) by running lotteries.