We aren't supposed to make any generalities based on race,
color or creed, just to begin with. Invidious comparisons can be
made, and indeed are every day made, by individuals. Still,
institutions go to extraordinary lengths to avoid remarking
differences. Indeed, many super-cautious universities even forbid
applicants to submit photographs, on the basis of which an
official at the Department of Admissions might say -- or whisper,
or just think quietly -- that this applicant is
black/Indian/Chinese ...
So what I want to know is: How is it that on page P-7 of The
New York Times for Nov. 9, 2006, I can find out how many people
voted Democratic and how many Republican, nationwide, among:
whites, blacks, Hispanics, Asians; men, women; 18- to
29-year-olds, 60 and older; didn't complete high school, did,
some college, college graduate, postgraduate; Protestants, white
Protestants, Catholics, white Catholics, Jews, white
evangelicals; family income under $15,000, under $30,000, under
$50,000, under $75,000, under $100,000, over $100,000;
Easterners, Midwesterners, Southerners, Westerners; gays,
lesbians, bisexuals.
Begin with truly sensitive questions, bearing on race,
ethnicity, color.
What about Jewish voters? It is assumed, is it not, that
cosmopolitan experience and education wipe out traditional tribal
allegiances? Well, no group could be better educated and more
cosmopolitan than the Jews, but they voted 88 percent
Democratic.
Is it as easy as that Jews are especially well educated, and
would incline to do the ... intelligent thing?
No. The least educated (did not complete high school) voted
mostly (64 percent) Democratic. But the college graduates voted
50-50.
Surely we can assume a correlation between income and
political affiliation?
Once again: Not quite. The poorest (family income under
$15,000) did indeed go Democratic (69 percent). Those with
incomes between $75,000 and $99,999 also went Democratic, though
narrowly (52 percent). Only in the highest bracket ($100,000 and
over) did Republicans edge out Democrats, 52 to 48 percent. Continued... |