Table 3.5A, Affirmative action questions--government expenditures (white respondents).

Question Wording and Notes:

Spending on Blacks (NORC): "We are faced with many problems in this country, none of which can be solved easily or inexpensively. I'm going to name some of these problems, and for each one I'd like you to tell me whether you think we're spending too much money on it, too little money on it, or about the right amount of money ... Improving the conditions of blacks. Are we spending too much, too little, or about the right amount on improving the conditions of blacks? Sample sizes fewer than 1,000 cases occurred in 1998 and 2000, when 969 and 950 white respondents, respectively, answered this question.

1. Too Much
2. Too Little
3. About the right amount

Help Blacks (NORC): "Some people think that African Americans have been discriminated against for so long that the government has a special obligation to help improve their living standards. Others believe that the government should not be giving special treatment to African Americans. Where would you place yourself on this scale, or haven't you made up your mind on this?" (Show card)

1. I strongly agree the government is obligated to help blacks
2.
3. I agree with both answers
4.
5. I strongly agree that government shouldn't give special treatment
8. Don't know

Federal Spending (ISR): "If you had a say in making up the federal budget this year, for which programs would you like to see spending increased and for which would you like to see spending decreased? Should federal spending on programs that assist blacks be increased, decreased, or kept about the same?" A sample size fewere than, 1,000 occurred in 2000, when 707 white respondents answerd this question.

1. Increased
2. Decreased
3. Same
4. Volunteered "cut out entirely"

Aid to Blacks (ISR): "Some people feel that the government in Washington should make every possible effort to improve the social and economic position of blacks. Others feel that the government should not make any special effort to help blacks because they should help themselves. Where would you place yourself on this scale, or haven't you thought much about this?" (Show card with 7-point scale.) A sample size fewer than 1,000 occurred in 2000, when 729 white respondents answered this question. Data for 1998 were collected by both telephone and face-to-face interviews.

1. Government should help blacks
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7. Blacks should help themselves
0. Haven't thought much about this