AS MORE STATES and cities struggle to find the money to bail out homeowners caught up in the housing downturn, some Americans are wondering why government should be rewarding people for their greed or irresponsibility.

Some, like Thomas Roach of Sarasota, Fla., are even actively campaigning against a bailout for people who, using easy credit and exotic mortgages, bought more home than they could afford on a bet to make easy profits from rising real estate prices.