Boston Review Survey: 25% of Americans blame Jews for the economic crisis

[cali]

<snip>

This concern makes good sense. In complex situations such as the current financial crisis, where the vast majority of us lack the relevant expertise and information, biases and prejudices may play a significant role in shaping public attitudes. To evaluate just how large a role, we conducted a study (part of a larger survey of 2,768 American adults) in which we explored people’s responses to the economic collapse and tried to determine how anti-Semitic sentiments might relate to the ongoing financial crisis.

In order to assess explicit prejudice toward Jews, we directly asked respondents “How much to blame were the Jews for the financial crisis?” with responses falling under five categories: a great deal, a lot, a moderate amount, a little, not at all. Among non-Jewish respondents, a strikingly high 24.6 percent of Americans blamed “the Jews” a moderate amount or more, and 38.4 percent attributed at least some level of blame to the group.

Interestingly, Democrats were especially prone to blaming Jews: while 32 percent of Democrats accorded at least moderate blame, only 18.4 percent of Republicans did so (a statistically significant difference). This difference is somewhat surprising given the presumed higher degree of racial tolerance among liberals and the fact that Jews are a central part of the Democratic Party’s electoral coalition. Are Democrats simply more likely to “blame everything” thus casting doubt on whether the anti-Jewish attitudes are real? Not at all. We also asked how much “individuals who took out loans and mortgages they could not afford” were to blame on the same five-point scale. In this case, Democrats were less likely than Republicans to assign moderate or greater blame.

Educational attainment also correlates with variation in anti-Semitic attitudes. Whereas only 18.3 percent of respondents with at least a bachelor’s degree blamed the Jews a moderate amount or more, 27.3 percent of those lacking a 4-year degree did so. Again, we get a similar reversal when examining the blameworthiness of individuals who took out loans they could not afford.

<snip>

http://bostonreview.net/BR34.3/malhotra_margalit.php

[lazer47]

1. I thought this had already been tried once in a place called Germany

it led to the Holocaust, Isn't it about time we start looking at ourselves as the cause? and not always somebody else. However your article is what we all need to remind us on a daily basis, to never forget and never repeat the mistakes of the past,,

[cali]

3. I can't see relating this to the Holocaust

but it does show how tenacious bigotry is. Blacks are lazy and stupid. Jews are greedy and shady. Latinos are breeders and parasites. Gays are perverts and destroyers of families, etc, etc. Hard to change this shit.

[lazer47]

6. Hitler started out blaming everything on the Jews especially the

economy,, and one thing led to another, that ended with the Holocaust and Germany's defeat

[cali]

8. yes, he did, but European anti-semitism

had deeper roots than American anti-semitism does.

[lazer47]

12. A lot of these same people have European Heritage, and that shit

gets passed down from generation to generation,,

[SemiCharmedQuark]

2. I believe that some of that is carry over from the Israel Palestine affair.

I've seen AIPAC blamed for all kinds of things on liberal blogs--including controlling our banks.

[cali]

5. that's absurd.

this is an age old anti-semitic canard. History argues strongly against you. Not to mention that most Americans support Israel.

[SemiCharmedQuark]

13. What explains the democratic/republican split?

I know that it's a time honored tradition to blame the Jews for usury. But I think that sometimes people's feelings from one issue spill over into another.

I've seen people who disagree with AIPAC go on to make accusations that essentially amount to "Jews control the government!"

[cali]

17. I don't know

but I don't think most Americans- and that includes dems- even keep up with I/P. I do believe that old prejudices slumber and are jolted into new life from time to time.

[SemiCharmedQuark]

20. Usually times of economic uncertainty.

You're right about keeping up with I/P. I spend too much time on blogs.

[tritsofme]

21. That is exactly what it is.

I mean it fits perfectly into this deranged theory that all evil in the world comes from AIPAC and Israel.

It doesn't surprise me at all that these people are stupid enough to blame "the Jews" for this economic crisis.

There are plenty of anti-Semites in the Democratic Party, just wonder over to the IP Forum.

[cali]

22. There are not plenty of anti-semites posting in I/P

I post there regularly. Yes, it happens from time to time that anti-semites wander in there, but it is not usual. there are plenty of anti-Israel folks posting there, but that's not the same thing as being anti-semitic.

[LeftishBrit]

18. I've seen it too, but suspect it's more effect than cause

There was antisemitism and 'the joos own the banks!' crap long before the state of Israel even existed.

[Adelante]

4. The Jooz!!

They're at it again :crazy:

[Vickers]

7. "only 18.3 percent of respondents with at least a bachelor’s degree blamed the Jews"

So basically 20% of the people in America are dumber than fuck, regardless of their education level.

[lazer47]

9. Sounds like they all graduated from The University of Alabama,

home of Jeff Sessions or possibly Georgia Tech..FLAME ON!!!

[cali]

10. I doubt this is regional, furthermore

a greater number of dems blamed the economic crisis on the Jews than repubs. Counterintuitive as that may seem.

[lazer47]

19. Down here in the south,, You cannot blame "Bubba Billy Bob"

as long as all these Black and Joos, and Mexicans are around...:sarcasm:

[Bonhomme Richard]

11. It's the same 25% that think shrub was great, torture is OK, .........

Obama isn't a citizen, socialist are taking over, we have the greatest health care system, they hate us for our freedoms, etc. etc. etc..
You know ....what's left of the republican base.

[cali]

14. evidently not, as more dems than repubs placed the blame on the Jews.

and actually, the percentage of people who placed at least some of the blame on Jews is nearly 40%.

[SemiCharmedQuark]

15. Except that 32% of Dems blamed the Jews.

[Bonhomme Richard]

26. That's what I get for not reading the article first. My bad.

But I would love to see the actual polling questions.
Anybody have a link? I tried but couldn't find any.

[LeftishBrit]

16. Sad but not surprising

You'd probably get similar results in many countries; and a similar correlation with education.

It is surprising that it would be worse in Dems - I wonder if different minority/ disadvantaged groups, all of which tend to vote Dem, are being pitted against each other? Or are people with lower education also more likely to vote Dem (because richer people can afford longer education, and are also more likely to vote Republican)?

I suppose the one good aspect is that 75% AREN'T using the economic crisi to justify antisemitism.

[Stevenmarc]

23. No big surprise, just listen to the callers on WJ in the morning.

[cali]

24. yeah, WJ really brings out the blatant anti-semites

and other assorted bigots.

[leftynyc]

25. Wish I could say I was surprised

but I'm not. Not even surprised that the Democrats are more likely to blame the Jews.