70% - Support Affirmative Action Programs

[BEB]

Nifty graph to go with the numbers. Though a lot of those questions sound the same to me.

More government programs? NO!


70% - Support Affirmative Action Programs
http://news.yahoo.com/s/pew/20070524...actionprograms
http://pewresearch.org/pubs/434/tren...udes-1987-2007

Seven-in-ten Americans now say they favor "affirmative action programs to help blacks, women and other minorities get better jobs and education," a 12-point increase since 1995, with support increasing among most demographic and political groups; but the number favoring "preferential treatment" for minorities, 34%, is no higher than in the early 1990s.

African Americans, who overwhelmingly favored such programs 12 years ago, continue to do so (94% in 1995, 93% today). By comparison, nearly two-thirds of whites (65%) now support affirmative action programs, compared with 53% in 1995. White college graduates -- and whites who attended college but have not graduated -- are much more supportive of affirmative action than they were in the mid-1990s. In addition, the number of white independents who favor affirmative action programs has increased by 15 points since 1995.

More white independents than white Republicans now support such programs (by 62%- 56%); in 1995, identical percentages of the two groups backed these programs (47% each). Despite this shift, however, most Americans (62%) disagree with this statement: "We should make every possible effort to improve the position of blacks and other minorities, even if means giving them preferential treatment." Even half of those who favor affirmative action programs dissent from the idea that minorities should be given preferential treatment. The number supporting preferences has increased since 2002, from 24% to 34%. Even so, the percentage favoring preferences is no higher than it was in 1993.

[Terminator]

Seven-in-ten Americans now say they favor "affirmative action programs to help blacks, women and other minorities get better jobs and education

Count me in as one of the three in ten.

[Big Al]

I will be #2

[chris2001]

I call number three. Affirmative action is nothing more now than reverse racism. Brad you and I had this talk in an airport in Atlanta I do believe last summer when we went to San Diego.

[keith720]

Affirmitive action has outlived it's usefullness and is an insult to minorities. It assumes that they are unable to get the job based on their individual merits and have to rely on their race, sex, or status I've seen too many minorities put down as an "affirmitive action appointee" when they have , in fact, worked hard to get where they are.

Conversely, I've seen many good, qualified "non-minorities" get cheated out of a job because of affirmitive action. ( Personally, it happened to me on at least 3 occasions.)

[Pedro56]

I believe in qualifications, not color of skin. I think affirmative action is racist against whites. That is ok though.

[TXPO710]

+1 Pedro. Best QUALIFIED person for the job!

[Virginian]

I smell bullshit. 7 in 10 is not believable to me.

[BEK]

they never asked my opinion that stat is soooo friggen wrong

[Caveman]

Seven-in-ten Americans now say they favor "affirmative action programs to help blacks, women and other minorities get better jobs and education

I find that hard to believe...

A lot of these focus and pollster groups customize their questions to reflect their own favorable outcome.

Another group could easily put out a "scientific" study to reflect that over 7 in 10 Americans favor abolishing affirmative action all together.

Its all a bunch of bunk.

[countybear]

If 70% favor Affirmative Action, then that means that 30% do not.

70% being much greater than 30% would mean that those of the 30% are in the minority...

If I am one of those 30%, that makes me part of that minority...

Since I am a minority, I should recieve the benefits of Affirmative Action, and 5-10 point preference on all tests for promotion/hiring.

Heya boss, you getting all this?

[chris2001]

Affirmative action when it was created had a purpose. That purpose is no longer a valid purpose. Its now affecting the work force that is out there and companies are having to hire people that have the brain power of a cinder block.

Affirmative action when it was created was suppose to give the minorities a chance at the good jobs. Because at that time the minorities had the same or close to the same education as the whites but where not getting the jobs because of color and sex. That idea and way of thinking is so out of date.

Anymore its the "whites" that are in the minority. However I do not know to many people that are white that want special treatment. I for one just want a fair shot at the job. If i out qualify you for the job then I should get the job, however if you have more qualities for the job than me then its all yours.

Again affirmative action is simply racism against those that it was not designed to help.

[TXCharlie]

The question should say: "Are you willing to be fired or loose a job opportunity to a less qualified person in order to equalize racial quotas"?

I think those 70% would feel differently if the question were phrased that way - Liberals are perfectly willing to make other people sacrifice, as long as they don't loose anything.

[tapout]

I call number three. Affirmative action is nothing more now than reverse racism. .

and reverse racism is nothing more then, well, racism...

[Rhino]

I'm calling bullshit on that statistic. I know many people that agree when I say affirmative action is a racist program. But there are so many white people out there too scared of being accused of racism if they publicly agree with me.

[TXCharlie]

Yep.