Asian American Attitudes toward Wealth | Asian American Poll

AA ATTITUDE TOWARD WEALTH
(Updated Tuesday, Apr 1, 2008, 05:07:03 PM to reflect the 100 most recent valid responses.)

Assuming you are an Asian American, how important is wealth in your assessment of a person's attractiveness?
It's one of the most important. | 19%
It's just one of many factors. | 36%
It's less important than other qualities. | 29%
I don't care about a person's wealth. | 16%

Assuming you are an Asian American, which best matches your feelings toward your own wealth?
I'd give up weekends to double my income. | 20%
I'd work longer hours for 50% more income. | 39%
I'm happy with my current income. | 24%
I'd give up some income for more free time. | 17%

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WHAT YOU SAY

[This page is closed to new input. --Ed.]

Asians are actually...,

I don't think we'll see a significant difference in the status of AAs in the next twenty years, but maybe the next 50. But it's going to take a real effort.

Like it or not, whites still dominate the political and cultural hegemony. As long as AAs continue 1) to be profiled (don't forget the DNC fundraising scandal and the persecution of Wen Ho Lee only a few years ago), 2) are missing from the Fortune 500 list of CEOs, 3) do not have much bearing in the media (not many Asians involved in the media PLUS all the negative stereotyping of AAs), we are still at the bottom of the pile. We may not be WAY down there, but we're still down there.

Truth is, we need more AAs to be involved in politics, law, media, and think tanks. We need more involvement in the civic world, not buried away in a lab. We need to get out there and promote more of our bros and sisters.

If whites have cultivated their own old-white-boy-network and blacks have supported their own, WHY CAN'T WE DO THE SAME?? Is this because we are ashamed of being Asian and promoting our own? Well, give it up. Others are going to lump us together whether we like it or not, so we better have take whatever advantage we have from it and promote UNITY, folks.

As it is, the AA community is still too badly fissured. For instance, we still have our Hop Sings, aka Asian "Uncle Toms"--you know, the types who tell us to quit moaning 'cos "discrimination is not so bad." These people think that just because they have it "good," it's easy for others: but just wait till the next few hurdles when they find themselves denied promotion to a white.

At the bottom of this mentality is a real wannabe attitude: maybe if I complain about Asians getting too militant, they'll see me as white. Imagine an AA kneeling on the floor, looking imploringly at Big White Man, begging with his hands clasped, "Please, please, I may look yellow but I'm really white on the inside. Please, please, see me as one of you." Hence, asinine sell-out journalists like Michelle Malkin. Or Connie Chung. They're not sell-out cos they're married to white men, but because they ignore the AA plight.

BTW, I should point out that I'm all for IR. It makes for a more open world. But I do find it pathetic that some Asian parents will prefer their son/daughter marrying a white over another Asian ethnicity. After all, you don't hear an Irish-American saying, "Son, I'd rather you marry an Asian woman than a English-American because those bloody English have persecuted us over 900 years of history." It's probably more like, "if you marry that chinkie, I'm going to disown you. Even the goddamn Brits are better than those piss-colored people. Man, we whooped their ass when we built the railways." OK this is very hypothetical and a bit exaggerated, but you get my gist.

I will not deny that Asians have bludgeoned each other over the centuries in Asian countries. But that back then and back there. As long as we're here in the US, we need to drop our blinders and support one another thru the ranks. Quit digging that gender divide. Quit squabbling over who killed more people in 1900. Or over which ethnicity has taller and better looking people. The 20th century is over. And we need to move FORWARD, not BACKWARDS.

Remember that!
Asian Dominatrix Sunday, June 09, 2002 at 09:49:54 (PDT)

I hear you, AC!

"They [whites] think they're the only people that can purchase European labels manufacturered in Asian Countries."

Yes! And whites forgot that the whole idea of designer logos--ie., Gucci, LV, Chanel, etc.--were invented by whites because they knew that they enjoyed conspicuous consumption! Who else invented the term "conspicuous consumption" and "keeping up with the Joneses"?

"Or that they are the only ones allowed in higher institutions of learning."

Yeah, this is why they bitch and moan about affirmative action AND complain that Asians put too much stress on academics. White women ( at least a certain number) seem to be the worst at it, too: wanting IN for themselves and their little blonde brainless bimbo sisters but closing the door to minority men and women!!

"Whites really do have a problem about facing the realities of this country. USA cars sucks, USA fabric sucks, USA electronic hardware sucks, USA labor unions sucks, USA manufacturing sucks."

You betcha. See my remarks on education below.

"A friend of mine and I were joking over lunch the other day to take out a full page gag ad in the Wall Street Journal.
"Whitey Go Back To Europe, You're Ruining the USA Economy - sponsored by Friends of the Man"

LOL! You can call it the Mall Street Journal too.

"If it wasn't for all those Asian in the USA public school system I'm pretty sure USA educational results would be even more pathetic compared to the international community."

Do you know what the problem is? Too much emphasis on money and class and not enough on education. Americans don't value education for itself unlike Asians and Europeans (not that all A's and E's do)--they only value it as a step up on the socio-economic ladder. This is what happens:

1. A lotta grads, especially those at prestigious universities, want high-flying jobs so they can get the million dollar house, cottage, Benz, etc.

2. Professors have to give them high grades cos' if they don't, the parents of these spoiled uppermiddle class white kids will sue the crap out of them. Go check out some of the forums at the Chronicle for Higher Education where kids at Ivies will get their parents to call professors to get their grades raised. Or make excuses for them to take their exams some other "convenient" time because they're going to some social event.

3. All this means that standards are lowered. Hence, Dumbya not just getting admitted to Yale and Harvard Business School, but actually GRADUATING from those schools.

4. Highschools will also inflate grades so these brats can attend prestigious schools. Etc. The whole curriculum is a joke: what they call "Advanced" ought to be just "standard." And kids who really deserve B's get A's.

5. This is why math and science preparation is better in Asia and the humanities are better in Europe. (As I've said some time ago, I've seen quite a few Ivy humanities students fail at Oxford or get kicked out.)

6. The SELFISH mentality of education here--me, me, me--means that many of these presumably well-educated uppermiddle and upperclass folks do not have a clue about their own domestic policies or foreign policies. As long as those on top continue to make lotsa money, it doesn't matter: hence, the arrogance of executives from Enron and Anderson while their employees get burned.
Many of the idiots running this country--politicians, manufacturing world, academia--only see dollar signs in fron of their eyes and thus can only view things very, very simplistically as in "Axis of Evil": this is why dumbya has a 60-70% approval rating (and had enough people voting for him in 2000 even if he lost the popular vote). And this is why even Europeans, who are culturally closest to the US, laugh at Americans and their mode of bullying. (The whole inadequacy of measures before the pre9/11 warnings just about says it all, apart from the fact that in the late 1990s, all the Repgnicans were more concerned with important matters like what was going on in Clinton's pants.)

The fact is, the US really could be a great country, because we had all the right principles in 1776. It was a step up from the despotism and asshole monarchies across the world. Too bad their descendants have degenerated into lazy ass fatcats.

Asian Dominatrix Saturday, June 08, 2002 at 14:13:27 (PDT)

To ASIANS ARE ACTUALLY OPEN MINDED:
It's hard to say where we as a whole will be in society in the next 20 years. Eventhough we are the most educated, have the most earning power, and are the fastest rising ethnicity in the U.S, we still make up a very small portion of the total US population (roughly 3%). Compared to white Americans of European descent(which still make up roughly 70% of the total U.S population) we have such a small voice in many aspects of society. Hopefully in 20 years, our portion of the US population will double; maybe even reach the 10% range(which are where the African Americans Are now). That's if Congress doesn't pass any new measures to restrict INS. So really anything can happen to our ethnic group. Until then, we are still seen as the foreigners to many Americans.
Viet guy in Houston Saturday, June 08, 2002 at 11:21:39 (PDT)

To all of the posters out there,

What are your thoughts on Asian Americans in the next 20 years from now?

Some predict we might be the new elite group (perhaps we have already attained such status).

Some predict things will get worse for us (Asians too overdriven, too hungry for money, lead others to be envious).

Some predict Asians will become extremely wealthy and worldly (Wealthy Asians are found through the diaspora, not just in America and in Asia).

It's funny how Whites, Blacks and Hispanics think Asians are conservative and less open minded. This is simply not true! In fact, they are the ones who conservative and reluctant to make improvements. Asians are very open minded when it comes to technology, new innovations, new ways of enhancing our lives...etc. We might be conservative when it comes to petty things like dating, socializing and meeting people, but we are not conservative when it comes to things that matter MORE!

Asians are actually open minded Friday, June 07, 2002 at 09:46:39 (PDT)

Asian Dominatrix,

Middle Class White people are just too strange sometimes. I think their world is too insurlar. They think they're the only people that can purchase European labels manufacturered in Asian Countries.

Or that they are the only ones allowed in higher institutions of learning.

Whites really do have a problem about facing the realities of this country. USA cars sucks, USA fabric sucks, USA electronic hardware sucks, USA labor unions sucks, USA manufacturing sucks.

A friend of mine and I were joking over lunch the other day to take out a full page gag ad in the Wall Street Journal.

"Whitey Go Back To Europe, You're Ruining the USA Economy - sponsored by Friends of the Man"

Its hard for some to swallow that is a new immigrant groups we will out compete the older immigrant groups for resources. It a fact of life in the USA.

If it wasn't for all those Asian in the USA public school system I'm pretty sure USA educational results would be even more pathetic compared to the international community.
AC Dropout Thursday, June 06, 2002 at 11:06:24 (PDT)

Big Bro rules,

Oh ho! This is why Americans are so status-conscious and need logos and other crap because they know money is so fictive and elusive?

There is a massive debt level because of the vicious cycle: the less you know you really have, the more you want to show off.

This is why business men, lawyers, real estate peeps, etc. are always driving fancy cars and wearing expensive suits. They need to show off to their clientele that they are "successful" so that they can draw in more elusive "cash."

me,

Don't forget too that there are many more Asians in the world than there are whites, so that statistically speaking, there should be a greater chance of bumping into them anywhere--yes, even if it's a place that sells WAY overpriced plastic/vinyl bags. Asians enjoy travelling and shopping as much as white Americans and Europeans do. Let's just acknowledge the fact that those exposed to the Western culture of conspicuous consumption are going to be more materialistic.

Put it this way, the wealthiest 20% are always going to make it look like they're in the top 10%, etc. This is the golden rule for ASIANS and WHITES, whether it's Europe, the U.S., Japan, Korea, or anywhere else!

AC Dropout,

Have you noticed that a lot of peeps here like to blame Asians for being materialistic and status-conscious, looks conscious, etc. when they are interested in EXACTLY the same thing?

Yeah, we're to blame for everything. If white women are anorexic, it's because we're making them anorexic (someone actually said this on the weight forum). If we happen to like designer things, we're "Status-conscious"--yet these folk forget why they themselves are even in the same shop! And, oh yes, we yak on our cell phones all the time...

We've all heard of the white man's burden. Why hasn't anyone come up with the phrase, Asian person's burden?
Asian Dominatrix Wednesday, June 05, 2002 at 11:12:32 (PDT)

BigBro Rules!,

So what is the rememdy. Carry chunks of pure gold in our pockets. Keep a few perfect diamonds in our pockets. That's what you get with Gov't backed currency these days.
AC Dropout Wednesday, June 05, 2002 at 10:55:36 (PDT)

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