Americans Say 'Melting Pot' Policies Once Made U.S. Stronger, But No More
Bruce Drake
Contributing Editor
Posted:
07/28/10
A substantial majority of Americans continue to regard the U.S. as a "melting pot" because of the numbers of people from abroad that have come here, and they say the policies that encouraged that process during the great wave of immigration at the turn of the 20th century made the country stronger. But now, a plurality believe those policies are making the country weaker, according to a CNN/Opinion Research poll conducted July 16-21.
Sixty-nine percent say the phrase "melting pot" describes the U.S. today, a number that is similar among blacks, Hispanics and whites.
Sixty-two percent say the policies that were in effect at the time of the immigrant influx in the early 1900s made the country stronger. Sixty-four percent of both Hispanics and whites agree with that view, although blacks subscribe to it in smaller numbers (49 percent).
However, asked what effect those same policies and customs were having on the country today, 43 percent say they are making it weaker, 31 percent believe they make it stronger and 26 percent say they have no effect.
Whites believe these policies make the country weaker by a 45 percent to 28 percent margin with 26 percent saying they have no effect. Hispanics say they make the country stronger by a 35 percent to 32 percent margin with 33 percent saying "melting pot" customs have no effect, while blacks are split with 36 percent saying the policies make the country weaker, 35 percent saying they make it stronger and 30 percent saying they have no effect.
The margin of error is 3 percent for all Americans and 5.5 points for Hispanics and blacks who were surveyed.
The public overall has mixed views when asked about immigrants who have moved here in the last ten years. (The poll refers only to immigrants in general, and does not mention illegal immigrants).
Seven out of ten or more Americans believe immigrants are "basically good, honest people" and are hard-working. But about 6 out of 10 say they add to the crime problem and take away jobs from Americans, while 69 percent regard them as a burden on American taxpayers.
Blacks say immigrants add to the crime problem by a 53 percent to 42 percent margin, while Hispanics reject that idea by 53 percent to 42 percent.
Blacks believe immigrants take jobs from Americans by a 66 percent to 33 percent margin, while Hispanics disagree by 57 percent to 42 percent.
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Sixty-nine percent say the phrase "melting pot" describes the U.S. today, a number that is similar among blacks, Hispanics and whites.
Sixty-two percent say the policies that were in effect at the time of the immigrant influx in the early 1900s made the country stronger. Sixty-four percent of both Hispanics and whites agree with that view, although blacks subscribe to it in smaller numbers (49 percent).
However, asked what effect those same policies and customs were having on the country today, 43 percent say they are making it weaker, 31 percent believe they make it stronger and 26 percent say they have no effect. Whites believe these policies make the country weaker by a 45 percent to 28 percent margin with 26 percent saying they have no effect. Hispanics say they make the country stronger by a 35 percent to 32 percent margin with 33 percent saying "melting pot" customs have no effect, while blacks are split with 36 percent saying the policies make the country weaker, 35 percent saying they make it stronger and 30 percent saying they have no effect.
The margin of error is 3 percent for all Americans and 5.5 points for Hispanics and blacks who were surveyed.
The public overall has mixed views when asked about immigrants who have moved here in the last ten years. (The poll refers only to immigrants in general, and does not mention illegal immigrants).
Seven out of ten or more Americans believe immigrants are "basically good, honest people" and are hard-working. But about 6 out of 10 say they add to the crime problem and take away jobs from Americans, while 69 percent regard them as a burden on American taxpayers.
Blacks say immigrants add to the crime problem by a 53 percent to 42 percent margin, while Hispanics reject that idea by 53 percent to 42 percent.
Blacks believe immigrants take jobs from Americans by a 66 percent to 33 percent margin, while Hispanics disagree by 57 percent to 42 percent.
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