Originally Posted By Mr X Or perhaps you are already among the 25% of Americans who already does? <a href="http://bostonreview.net/BR34.3/malhotra_margalit.php" target="_blank">http://bostonreview.net/BR34.3...alit.php</a> " ..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." It's times like these I really with Jonvn were still around. I'm sure he'd have something interesting to say about this! (that reminds me, didn't he predict that picking the black guy would bury the Democrats in the general? now that all his predictions have failed save one, I wonder if he's the one whispering in Limbaugh's ear about the "failure" thing so he can at least be proven right on "Obama won't do much" ) So anyway...anti-semitism alive and well in America? This stat is pretty shocking, I'd say.
Originally Posted By gurgitoy2 It is kind of shocking, especially since the question was so blatant. I also don't understand how people would say "yes". I mean, how are they to blame? It's just so out of left field, I guess by asking it so directly, you will get some honest answers...it's another thing to add to America's need to be better educated, and I'm not just talking school...
Originally Posted By RoadTrip I can see how people would say that even though it is wrong. It is a fact that Jewish people are employed in the financial services industry in significantly larger numbers than their percent of the American population would indicate. Because of this those inclined to be anti-Semetic frequently (and erroneously) say that the Jews control the American economy. Does that mean they were actually "to blame" for the collapse? Of course not. Even though Jewish people are heavily represented in that field, they are still a distinct minority. I don't know that you can even place all the blame on the financial services industry. Everyone who took out a smoke and mirrors mortgage or home equity loan; or lived the "good life" they couldn't afford using credit cards certainly shares in the blame.
Originally Posted By trekkeruss Maybe it's anti-semitic, but maybe people think that Jewish people are more successful than most. So in a round-about way, they think the Jews are to blame. Am I making sense at all? Put another way, if the question was asked, "Is any particular group to blame for the financial crisis, what group would that be?" I think most people would say "rich people," not "Jews."
Originally Posted By Mr X I just tonight learned that Bernie Madoff is Jewish (call me naive). Perhaps HE had something to do with the sentiment? (the article seems to point that way) ***I don't know that you can even place all the blame on the financial services industry. Everyone who took out a smoke and mirrors mortgage or home equity loan; or lived the "good life" they couldn't afford using credit cards certainly shares in the blame.*** Well put, and I've been saying this for a while (K2M and I had some serious quarrels with this issue)...I will say for the record that people who were legitimately SCAMMED are truly victims and deserve to be compensated or helped, but there were PLENTY of folks out there who were well able to read the fine print but simply chose not to. If it's too good to be true...and all that.
Originally Posted By DAR <<I just tonight learned that Bernie Madoff is Jewish (call me naive). Perhaps HE had something to do with the sentiment? (the article seems to point that way)>> Maybe instead Jews they meant Douches.
Originally Posted By tiggertoo I don’t know. I’m not totally convinced. I want to see the actual study. Any links? There is certainly a connection, no doubt about that. But they chose an incendiary figure and no mention of parallel controls for other groups using similar strategies (Christians, Muslims, atheists, ). Not saying they are incorrect, I just worry (feel) there might be some spuriousness in there lurking. But again, I would like to see the study and check the robustness for myself. I would also like to see it scrutinized by the APSA before I accept it as fact.
Originally Posted By tiggertoo Just to be clear, the study is fascinating and disconcerting if true. I’m just not completely convinced that the parameters of the study as portrayed in the article necessarily leads to the conclusion they are suggesting. That’s all.
