Posted on 11/24/2012 12:20:22 AM PST by MBT ARJUN
Hindu-Americans have the highest socioeconomic levels among all religions in the United States, according to a new study by the Pew Research Center’s Forum on Religion and Public Life.
Experts say U.S. immigration policy is the main reason Hindus do so well.
Both the 1965 Immigration Act and the more recent H1-B visa program set the table for Hindus to succeed. The former encouraged the immigration of professionals, particularly doctors and engineers, while the latter was designed to encourage the immigration of highly skilled “guest workers.”
The number of H1-B visas issued to Indians grew steadily in the late 1990s and early 2000s and then spiked again in 2007. In 2011, according to the study, India accounted for more than half of all the H1-B visas granted. “The education capital of this group is phenomenal,” said Khyati Joshi, an associate professor at the Fairleigh Dickinson School of Education in Teaneck, New Jersey.
The Pew study, titled “Asian Americans: A Mosaic of Faiths,” bears that out, and the numbers are staggering.
Eighty-five percent of Hindu-Americans are college graduates, and 57 percent have some postgraduate education, which is nearly five times the national average.
Education levels largely correlate to income, and there as well, Hindus rank at the top of the list.
According to the study, 48 percent of Hindu-American households have an income of $100,000 or more, and 70 percent make at least $75,000.
Another, secondary driver for the success of Hindus can be traced back to India’s caste system, according to Prema Kurien, a professor of sociology and the director of the Asian/Asian American Studies Program at Syracuse University in New York.
“Hindu migrants to the U.S. are largely from upper caste backgrounds,” she said. “Upper castes have had a long history of socioeconomic and educational advantage in India.”
According to Alan Cooperman, the associate director for research for the study, the success of Hindus stems from the type of person that chooses to leave India and who the U.S. admits. This, he said, is quite different from other immigrant groups, where there are often high numbers of refugees or undocumented immigrants.
“This is the first time anybody has had good data on [Hindus],” said Cooperman. “Hindus are a fascinating group.”
Or, they might be voting their political principles, which is how you and I vote.
New immigrant citizens have been voting 80% for the Democrat Party for at least three decades.
After Reagan gave Amnesty to 3 million Hispanics in 1986, 75% of Hispanics voted against GHW Bush in 1988, the worst showing for a Republican candidate ever!
This is not white against non-white.
This is Conservatives against Socialists.
You make an excellent point.
I live in the heart of Microsoft country, and at least a third of their programmers are foreign born.
They are smart people, often friendly, and hard workers.
But they are not exceptional in any way.
The Indians compete directly against recent American graduates and older workers, and they absolutely drive down wages and benefits.
Strangely, whenever Bill Gates or Steve Ballmer speak at UWashington, they attract SRO crowds of whooping and cheering youngsters who treat them like heroes.
Their universities, just like America, are dominated by Marxists and Socialists.
The people who come to the US are those who are hurt by socialism and by the affirmative action in India.
Of the 10 Hindus that I know well, 5 are Republicans, 2 are Democrats, and the others split their votes. I think that the problem is that Indians come to American cities, which are highly Democrat and only Democrats reach out to them. This is a probelm of the GOP with many groups. It is an unforced error.
I’m not sure I suggested that India’s present and future are bleak.
I pointed out that India’s recent political history has been Marxist and Socialist.
That helps explain - at least to me - why 80% of Indian-Americans vote for the Democrat Party.
All immigrant groups from the developing world vote 70%-80% for the Democrat Party, so that is not unusual.
What is unusual is that Indians are the best educated and best paid immigrant group in America, but they show no sign of becoming more Conservative.
The idea that Indians will begin to vote for Conservatives if we support higher levels of immigration has no basis in reality.
No matter how deeply we compromise our principles, the Democrat Party will always outbid us.
Indian don’t vote Democrat because of strong affiliation to Marxism or Socialism. That is preposterous.
Most Indians in US are concentrated on the east coast and the west coast, mostly in the big cities. And Indian voting pattern isn’t very different from any other population residing in those areas. They mix and socialize with American students, research grad or professionals in technology companies most whom already happen to be Democrats.
Secondly most Indians are Hindus. Strong radical Christian conservative behaviour, attitude, rhetoric and political discourse turns them off. Many Christians can’t even tolerate a Mormon (Romney) let alone tolerate a Hindu.
Also lets be honest, conservatives are not very immigrant friendly. More so if they are non-European and non-Christian (and Indians meet both those criteria). And conservatives haven’t done much to change that perception. There is no point complaining Indians don’t vote Republican when conservatives do everything to give out the impression that Indians are not wanted/welcomed in the US. Democrats at least put up the pretense of tolerating the immigrants. The Democrats go out of their way to woo the immigrants and Republicans do exactly the opposite. That is the single most important reason for not voting Republican.
You want Indians to vote Republican? Embrace Indians as “ideal immigrants”. Say some nice things about Indians on camera. Talk about trade, scientific, energy cooperation and strategic alliance with India. Dump the usual outsourcing nonsense and you will see Indians lining up behind you in droves. Bush was very popular in India and Sarah Palin was extended a special invite to talk at the Times of India conference.
Its not impossible.
I simply pointed out that they overwhelmingly support Democrats because they are Socialists.
I'm quite interested in your counter-theory about why they vote for Democrats.
If I understand correctly, the fact that they were born, raised, and often educated in a Socialist country has no bearing on their political principles.
Instead, after moving to large coastal American cities and working and socializing with Democrats, they vote Democrat.
That strikes me as, well, incredible.
Your comments on Conservative Christians describe people I have never met or spoken to in person, although I would not be surprised if Hard Left MSM news networks “discover” such people every week.
It's very disappointing to learn that Indians have pre-judged 50 million Americans based on news reports written by Democrat political activists.
Your idea that Democrats “go out of their way to woo the immigrants” is absurd.
The Dems ONLY embrace immigrants who vote Democrat.
Democrats have been trying to shut down Cuban immigration for 40 years!
Gosh, I wonder why?
By the way, what did Republicans do to woo the Cubans?
Please don't answer that - I grew up in south Florida in the 50’s and 60’s, and the GOP did absolutely nothing to woo them.
Indians are just like you and me and the Cubans, ravager.
All of us vote our political principles.
The rest is baloney.
All of us vote our political principles.
The rest is baloney.”
Nope they don't. The only baloney here is your post.
I see your attempt to brand Indians as “socialist”.....based on the fact that they were born and raised in a “socialist” country, India. So why not explain to me how socialist India really is?
What country has welfare, social security, unemployment....food stamp et all? India or US?
What country has medicare, Medicaid program?
What country has tougher environmental regulations and labor laws?
What country has higher corporate taxes?
What government gives out nearly $9 Trillion dollar bailouts to private banking and private auto industry?
Tell me again about socialism in India. Are you telling me that Indians who are voting to liberalize and reform their economy back home in India are voting for more socialism here in US? And if Indian's vote for socialism because they all came from a “socialist” country, explain to me how exactly Americans who are born and raised in a supposedly “capitalist” country are also voting for socialism in large numbers. Its easy to chuck labels around when you don't know or understand enough.
“Your comments on Conservative Christians describe people I have never met or spoken to in person, although I would not be surprised if Hard Left MSM news networks “discover” such people every week.
It's very disappointing to learn that Indians have pre-judged 50 million Americans based on news reports written by Democrat political activists.”
I am guessing you are not a non-Christian, non-European immigrant. Ofcourse you would not have the same perspective of that of an Indian. And Indians, whatever else they may be, they are not stupid. I am an Indian American myself. I am a Republican and I have voted for Romney.....however I already know first hand how much love I feel from my fellow “Christian conservatives”. I don't need the Leftist MSM to tell me about it. 8 million Christian evangelicals who voted McCain last time chose not to vote a Mormon Romney. I don't need MSM to tell me how much love they would have for a Hindu-Indian. I know already, and so does every other Indian.
“Instead, after moving to large coastal American cities and working and socializing with Democrats, they vote Democrat.
That strikes me as, well, incredible.”
I don't know why that strikes you as incredible. Maybe you don't have enough life experience? Who knows. Yes Indians do live in the big coastal cities. Why would their voting pattern be any different and stand out among all the other ethno/racial groups in that region? You find that incredible?
You have closed your mind to rational discussion.
By the way, I live in east King County (Seattle), the heart of Microsoft country.
We have the second highest concentration of Indian professionals in America outside of Silicon Valley.
I deal with Indians as co-workers and neighbors on a daily basis.
Your “personal” knowledge of Indian politics is no greater and no more insightful than mine.
Also, I searched for the poll I referenced in my very first comment.
It's from Pew Research Center, and is titled “The Rise Of Asian Americans.”
Here's the link:
http://www.pewsocialtrends.org/asianamericans/
Pew reports that Indian Americans identify as 65% Democrat to 18% Republican.
No other Asian American group even comes close to this kind of Hard Left self-identification!
Actually NYC and NJ has higher concentration of Indians in the US. You knowing few Indians in little Seattle means squat. I AM an Indian. I was raised in both India and US. I speak the language and practice the religion. I lived among Indians most of my life. There's a VAST difference between knowing a few Indians in Seattle and being an Indian. I know and understand the Indian psyche in ways you never will. So don't even go there.
As for the Pew polls, of all the Asian ethnicity which one is the darkest skin plus non Christian? If a brown skinned non-Christian Indian was to run on a Republican ticket, what do you think would be his chances of winning votes among conservatives? Let's be honest here.
Also a few years ago the same Pew polls also reported that Bush was the most popular in India compared to any other country in the world. Bush must be a Hard Left socialist to be that popular among Indians no?
As for the rest of my post, I didn't see you refuting anything, so I rest my case.
I'll say it again - you have closed your mind to rational discussion.
Thanks for admitting you are Indian.
I had that impression from your first post.
I was afraid to ask because I thought you would claim I was being racist.
I live in Bellevue, WA.
10% of our population is Indian, almost all of them software engineers and their families.
That's roughly 12,000 Indians in 20 square miles.
The town next to us, Redmond, has a slightly lower percentage and number of Indians.
According to the Seattle News, this is the second largest concentration of Indian professionals in America.
I will dig out a link for that story if you demand it.
You claim that you understand the Indian psyche.
That is very depressing news.
Here is the political conception I now have of Indian-Americans...
Before leaving India, most of you were free enterprise capitalists who supported limited government, limited taxation, and individual responsibility.
After arriving in America, most of you encountered White Republican Conservative Christians, a species of man even more repulsive than Pakistani Muslims.
That experience was so horrifying most of you decided to vote for the political party that rejects capitalism, seeks unlimited government, seeks unlimited taxation, and rejects individualism.
Ironically, Indian-Americans decided to support the exact same political party that is overwhelmingly supported by Muslim-Americans!
Yes, now I get it, now I understand.
Are you aware that Bobby Jindal, a brown skinned Indian Republican, is Governor of the state of Louisiana?
Apparently Jindal converted to Christianity, but I had to look that up, since I had no idea what his religion was.
Are you aware that Jindal was actively considered for the Vice-Presidential nomination by Romney?
Are you aware that every Black Republican Congressman has been elected from a majority white District?
Are you aware that no Black Democrat Congressman has EVER been elected from a majority white District?
The only Pew poll I know about in India was the one asking if Indians “had confidence” in George Bush.
I have no idea what that means, or what India's opinion on that question means.
I will guess that India liked George Bush because he evicted al Qaeda and the Taliban from Afghanistan, and then he bombed extremist Muslims in northern Pakistan.
ravager, you think and talk like a Democrat.
The Republican Party does not “woo” anyone.
We have a fairly well defined set of political principles.
If you embrace those principles, we welcome you with open arms.
If you reject those principles, if you demand that we change our principles, then you need to choose another Party.
You are obsessed with race and religion and imaginary insults.
You think in terms of “groups” and not in terms of individuals.
There is nothing that I - or any other Republican - could say to you that would bring you to our side.
You skipped the most important question. Why do you think Bobby Jindal converted to Christianity? Do you think Bobby Jindal would have still been elected being what his original religion was.....”Hindu“? How many non-Christians have the conservatives ever elected? (not that Democrats fare any better on that test). But at least Democrats don’t point fingers at Indians for their failure. It’s one thing “consider” a Christian Jindal run for “vice President” quite another thing to actually elect a brown skinned “muzlum looking” Hindu for President...that too on Republican ticket. If that day ever comes I promise I will accept Jesus as my savior.
Am I close minded? Maybe. You want to pretend you are a better man then me, go ahead. I am sorry I am practical. I have no illusion as to how much Christian Conservative love my ethnicity. Don’t White Christian conservatives find us repulsive? Most of them don’t even see any difference between us and Pakistanis.
And far from wooing anyone, no other party does a better job of driving away potential voters then the Republicans. I know plenty of Indians who think exactly like Republicans but would never vote Republicans.
Personally I don’t even think it matters who the Indians vote. Republicans will still hate us and Democrats will only pretend they like us. And then there are those like you who will indulge in ethnicity bashing. A little introspective soul searching might have helped to see why Republicans are losing so many votes but I don’t see that coming. It’s always going to be those darn socialist marxist loving Indians from for the third world who are here to destroy America. Yeah that’s exactly what our plans is. Never mind majority of America also voted Democrat.
” There is nothing that I - or any other Republican - could say to you that would bring you to our side.“
I am already on your side. It’s what I have trying to tell you but look how quickly you branded me as a Democrat... just for speaking my mind. You just proved my point about Republicans driving away other people. And quite honestly I don’t care about passing Mr. zeestephan’s test to prove my Republican credentials. If you think I am socialist loving Democrat I quit fine with that.
Bush didn’t evict fruit flies from Afghanistan let alone the Taliban or Al Qaeda. Bush was popular because he was the first US president to forget strong strategic and economic ties with India. And the fact that he was ready to join India in combating terrorism emanating from Pakistan.
I am done proving anything. I am fine being a socialist like the rest of my ethnicity.
” The Republican Party does not “woo” anyone.”
They totally do but just one kind of ethnicity and religion. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. My point is why stop at one. It better then driving others away and then calling them socialists.
WTF are you talking about?
Get help, man.
I have no idea WTF I am talking about. Tell me Trailerpark Badass guy.
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