# It is surprising how many people think the Jews control the world/US etc. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 20, 2010, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-is-surprising-how-many-people-think-the-jews-control-the-world-us-etc/543871 "2010-06-20T14:22:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2010, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-is-surprising-how-many-people-think-the-jews-control-the-world-us-etc/543871/21 "2010-06-21T01:35:42Z")
> [@Kyla](#): > > Sorry, there are no countries outside of the US. Duh. > > Seriously, I think there are specific Jewish groups (esp. AIPAC) that have managed to acquire more influence than their numbers would suggest them capable of. They’ve done this in large part by appealing to nutso evangelist Christians who support Israel because they believe that Israel is necessary for their messianic apocalyptic vision. So it’s not too hard to then get to the thought process that Jews are controlling US foreign policy, or whatever. Especially if you’re already a gullible moron to start with. > > FWIW, I’m a Jew, I think AIPAC is despicable and have played a large part in creating an atmosphere among American Jews that makes it difficult to criticize Israeli policy without being accused of being a traitor, and I’m barely even in control of my own life, let alone anything else. Right. Jews do kind of control the world in a way radically disproportionate to their numbers. There are only about 13,000,000 of them worldwide out of over 6,000,000,000 and about half of those live in the U.S. Even at just 2% of the U.S. population, they still have the world’s most powerful nation wrapped around their fingers in a big way. I say God bless them (and I have it on good authority that he has). I went to a heavily Jewish university (Tulane; ‘Jewlane’) and I would love to know how their parents are raising those kids. They tend to be amazingly successful. Half my friends are Jewish and I can’t figure out what they are doing differently than I am but I am sure I will be getting credit card applications signed from the kids that play with my daughters some day. There isn’t much true antisemitism in the U.S. as opposed to the rest of the world, especially Europe. Jews and the fundie Christian coalitions even managed to band together so that the holy land of Israel is protected so you don’t hear much Jewish criticism even in the Bible Belt. The main point of Jewish critique comes from the left which makes the whole thing hard to make sense of. There are some weird bed partners. ---
**Author:** ![kidneyfailure](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9f8e36/32.png) [@kidneyfailure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kidneyfailure)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2010, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-is-surprising-how-many-people-think-the-jews-control-the-world-us-etc/543871/22 "2010-06-21T01:37:10Z")
> [@Mr.Excellent](#): > > Man, I wish we \*did \*control the world. That’d be sweet - I can’t even imagine the badass fellowships I’d be able to get. Me, too. Everytime I hear about how “Jews control the world” I always wonder why all the others forgot to tell me. And then I get bummed out because of all the cool world-controlling shit I’m missing out on. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2010, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-is-surprising-how-many-people-think-the-jews-control-the-world-us-etc/543871/23 "2010-06-21T02:34:13Z")
> [@Rigamarole](#): > > Define “control the world”. Jewish people control dramatically more wealth per capita than any other ethnic group. There aren’t that many of them in terms of percentages but they have a huge and disproportionate amount of influence. How could you argue otherwise? > > (note: I’m not saying this is a bad thing or that there is any sort of coordinated conspiracy, of course. But you can’t act like this notion just comes out of nowhere) And apparently we are using that disproportionate amount of influence to make the entire world hate us. Our plan is working perfectly! ---
**Author:** ![Plan\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Plan\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Plan_B)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2010, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-is-surprising-how-many-people-think-the-jews-control-the-world-us-etc/543871/24 "2010-06-21T03:05:59Z")
I remember a South Park episode about 9/11 conspiracy believers where the refrain line (I believe it was Stan who kept saying it) was: “But 25% of Americans are retarded.” I’m sure that applies to Greeks, Irish, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2010, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-is-surprising-how-many-people-think-the-jews-control-the-world-us-etc/543871/25 "2010-06-21T03:39:36Z")
> [@](#): > > Jews do kind of control the world in a way radically disproportionate to their numbers. There are only about 13,000,000 of them worldwide out of over 6,000,000,000 and about half of those live in the U.S. Even at just 2% of the U.S. population, they still have the world’s most powerful nation wrapped around their fingers in a big way. I say God bless them (and I have it on good authority that he has). I went to a heavily Jewish university (Tulane; ‘Jewlane’) and I would love to know how their parents are raising those kids. But the whole “radically disproportionate to their numbers” idea blows every “the Jews control…” theory out of the water. Tulane is not a “heavily Jewish university” - the majority of its study body is Christian. ---
**Author:** ![LC\_Strawhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e19adc/32.png) [@LC\_Strawhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LC_Strawhouse)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2010, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-is-surprising-how-many-people-think-the-jews-control-the-world-us-etc/543871/26 "2010-06-21T03:42:16Z")
> [@An\_Gadai](#): > > I had an argument last night with two otherwise rational individuals about the extent to which “the Jews” control the US and the world. A discussion that began as a light hearted but general discussion of conspiracy theories turned a little bit weird when I realised that both my companions believe that “the Jews” or Israel controls the United States. I was a bit 😕. I’m not too keen on Israeli policy vis a vis Gaza and the Palestinians but I understand it and I also understand most of the criticism levelled at the Israeli state of late, but why (otherwise sane, rational, educated) people believe that the US is controlled by “the Jews” I just can’t fathom. Are you writing from Ireland? Forgive me if I am being ignorant here, but the Irish people I’ve met often have _really weird_ feelings about the whole Middle East thing, possibly because it stirs up echoes of the Ireland vs Britain conflict. I knew a father/daughter where the father thought the Irsaelis were “like the Brits” and the rebellious daughter identified with them as being more like the Irish. I heard that the Ulster loyalists have been using Israeli symbols lately as well (like putting their red hand inside the six pointed star) which surely makes things even weirder… ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2010, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-is-surprising-how-many-people-think-the-jews-control-the-world-us-etc/543871/27 "2010-06-21T04:05:30Z")
Jews do not control the world by any means, but in the US they do exert a massively disportionate influence on things of interest or importance to them relative to their absolute population. This had occurred and maintained itself through very adept use of the centers of influence and access to the levers of power suffusing through the political infrastructure of the United States. This is in addition to a “take no prisoners” attitude where anyone (especially Jews) straying from the reservation are punished mercilessly. The “reservation” in this case is the absolute primacy of the unquestioning support and defense of the state of Israel, and not questioning Israeli policies in any form or fashion. See here [Alan Dershowitz endorses a Republican](http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2010/06/16/dershowitz_endorses_republican) So control world = crazy. Extremely influential relative to their numbers = not crazy. ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2010, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-is-surprising-how-many-people-think-the-jews-control-the-world-us-etc/543871/28 "2010-06-21T04:28:07Z")
> [@astro](#): > > This is in addition to a “take no prisoners” attitude where anyone (especially Jews) straying from the reservation are punished mercilessly. The “reservation” in this case is the absolute primacy of the unquestioning support and defense of the state of Israel, and not questioning Israeli policies in any form or fashion. Yes, this. In this environment, American Jewry has developed an ideology toward Israel that, on the Israeli political spectrum, would be considered quite right-wing. It’s weird because plenty of actual Israelis are much, much more open to, for example, consider the possibility of an independent Palestinian state than plenty of American Jews. As an American Jew who loves Israel - not because of what it represents, but because I lived there for awhile and I had a great time and have very fond thoughts toward the people and the land - who is also liberal and has a strong distaste for a number of Israeli policies toward Palestinians, such as the siege of Gaza, it’s difficult to find a place to voice my opinions. All niches for discussion have been seized by a specific, extremely pro-security, pro-Zionist ideology. There are a couple of liberal Jewish organizations trying to compete with AIPAC, but tbh I don’t know how successful they are. It’s frustrating because if I actually lived in Israel, there would be plenty of platforms for my opinions. There are lots of lefty groups. But saying anything that is critical of Israel in the US is a good way to get yourself branded as anti-Israel, a traitor to your people, and a self-hating Jew. BTW, [Tulane University is 14% Jewish](http://reformjudaismmag.org/_kd/Items/actions.cfm?action=Show&item_id=1380&destination=ShowItem). Whether you think that is “heavily Jewish” is up to you, I would guess. ---
**Author:** ![tr0psn4j](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/958977/32.png) [@tr0psn4j](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tr0psn4j)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2010, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-is-surprising-how-many-people-think-the-jews-control-the-world-us-etc/543871/29 "2010-06-21T05:22:07Z")
I started a thread about this a long time ago too. I almost stopped talking to a friend because he was making that claim. ---
**Author:** ![Annie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/858c86/32.png) [@Annie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2010, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-is-surprising-how-many-people-think-the-jews-control-the-world-us-etc/543871/30 "2010-06-21T05:35:48Z")
I thought it was white men who ruled the world. Granted, many of them are desendants of Red Sea pedestrians, but a thorough analysis of DaMan reveals white guy as the dominant type. Just like most of the jewophobes or whatever they’re called. Probably just pissed they didn’t get in on the matzo train ---
**Author:** ![AboutAsWeirdAsYouCanGet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@AboutAsWeirdAsYouCanGet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AboutAsWeirdAsYouCanGet)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2010, 7:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-is-surprising-how-many-people-think-the-jews-control-the-world-us-etc/543871/31 "2010-06-21T07:43:33Z")
> [@](#): > > 'm not too keen on Israeli policy vis a vis Gaza and the Palestinians but I understand it and I also understand most of the criticism levelled at the Israeli state of late, but why (otherwise sane, rational, educated) people believe that the US is controlled by “the Jews” I just can’t fathom. Right on. I have a friend who rants and RAVES about how teh EVIL Isreal’s human rights are. Some of the forwards he’s forwarded to me are borderline anti Semitic…I’m almost expecting him to start raving about how Jews are teh EVIL soon. ---
**Author:** ![ivan\_astikov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@ivan\_astikov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivan_astikov)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2010, 10:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-is-surprising-how-many-people-think-the-jews-control-the-world-us-etc/543871/32 "2010-06-21T10:48:24Z")
If you are interpreting the statement “Jews are running the world” as meaning _every_ Jew is involved, or, that those accused of running the show are doing it on the behalf of every Jew, then I suppose you have every right to ridicule those saying it. But, the fact is, that’s not what ALL people are saying. Some are saying that there are Jews who have undue influence on the world’s stage, and that said influence isn’t in the least altruistic, and is more akin to selfishness of the most objectionable type. ---
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2010, 10:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-is-surprising-how-many-people-think-the-jews-control-the-world-us-etc/543871/33 "2010-06-21T10:59:56Z")
Dunno about the world, but Jews certainly control and dominate discussions on the SDMB. I’ve assumed for years that several of the above posters who identify themselves as Jews were Christians–the proportion of Jews on the message board is wildly disproportional to the general (US) population where it’s about 1%, I think. Must be, what? 30% of the SD, maybe? ---
**Author:** ![Superhal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Superhal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superhal)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2010, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-is-surprising-how-many-people-think-the-jews-control-the-world-us-etc/543871/34 "2010-06-21T11:43:31Z")
I agree with the “out of the blue” sentiment. People who are usually quite rational will suddenly make a Jew conspiracy remark totally out from left field. But then again, Jesus was a Jew, and you could say that Christians control the US. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2010, 11:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-is-surprising-how-many-people-think-the-jews-control-the-world-us-etc/543871/35 "2010-06-21T11:45:52Z")
> [@LC\_Strawhouse](#): > > Are you writing from Ireland? > > Forgive me if I am being ignorant here, but the Irish people I’ve met often have _really weird_ feelings about the whole Middle East thing, possibly because it stirs up echoes of the Ireland vs Britain conflict. I knew a father/daughter where the father thought the Irsaelis were “like the Brits” and the rebellious daughter identified with them as being more like the Irish. > > I heard that the Ulster loyalists have been using Israeli symbols lately as well (like putting their red hand inside the six pointed star) which surely makes things even weirder… I’m curious what you think is really weird about that POV. I don’t think Irish people have really weird feelings about the whole Middle East thing but I think they have a simplistic view of a realistic way forward for Palestinians and Jews (and other groups) in that part of the world. The Israeli treatment of Palestinians resonates with a lot of Irish people (especially in Northern Ireland) but in reality Israeli treatment of Palestinians has been\* far worse\* in living memory than British treatment of the Irish and also Palestinian hostility and actions against the Israelis have been of an order of magnitude higher than anything seen Northern Ireland or Britain. In some ways I think Irish Republicans use solidarity with Palestine to legitimise themselves. The Northern Ireland situation perhaps offers something of a lesson for Israel/Palestine, without coming to an equitable status quo amongst the communities there may never be lasting peace. And indeed it isn’t uncommon to see a Palestine flag in Republican areas or an Israeli flag flying in Loyalist/Unionist areas. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2010, 11:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-is-surprising-how-many-people-think-the-jews-control-the-world-us-etc/543871/36 "2010-06-21T11:48:32Z")
> [@LC\_Strawhouse](#): > > Are you writing from Ireland? > > Forgive me if I am being ignorant here, but the Irish people I’ve met often have _really weird_ feelings about the whole Middle East thing, possibly because it stirs up echoes of the Ireland vs Britain conflict. I knew a father/daughter where the father thought the Irsaelis were “like the Brits” and the rebellious daughter identified with them as being more like the Irish. > > I heard that the Ulster loyalists have been using Israeli symbols lately as well (like putting their red hand inside the six pointed star) which surely makes things even weirder… This is really only true of Northern Ireland - I personally drove past an estate where a bunch of loyalist/unionist houses were flying Israeli flags and a bunch of republican/nationalist houses were flying the Palestinian one. In the Republic, in my experience, the attitudes are similar to how they are in the UK. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2010, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-is-surprising-how-many-people-think-the-jews-control-the-world-us-etc/543871/37 "2010-06-21T11:55:06Z")
> [@ivan\_astikov](#): > > But, the fact is, that’s not what ALL people are saying. Some are saying that there are Jews who have undue influence on the world’s stage, and that said influence isn’t in the least altruistic, and is more akin to selfishness of the most objectionable type. I didn’t say ALL people were saying anything. I said that some people, including people I find otherwise rational, informed and intelligent think “the Jews” control the world. Having a disproportionate influence is probably unfair but hardly unprecedented, for example the [Parsi](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parsi) population of India has always been miniscule and their community has made a significant contribution to Indian history and culture. I’m sure there are other examples of minority communities have a disproportionate influence on affairs beyond their immediate surroundings. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2010, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-is-surprising-how-many-people-think-the-jews-control-the-world-us-etc/543871/38 "2010-06-21T12:08:16Z")
So if I study reaaaaally hard and stuff and became a Full Fledged JEW, will I get to control a newspaper or cable station immediately? I’m interested in knowing what born-into vs. Joiners get. Verklemptly Yours, Shirley ---
**Author:** ![LC\_Strawhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e19adc/32.png) [@LC\_Strawhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LC_Strawhouse)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2010, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-is-surprising-how-many-people-think-the-jews-control-the-world-us-etc/543871/39 "2010-06-21T12:18:51Z")
> [@An\_Gadai](#): > > I’m curious what you think is really weird about that POV. > > I don’t think Irish people have really weird feelings about the whole Middle East thing but I think they have a simplistic view of a realistic way forward for Palestinians and Jews (and other groups) in that part of the world. The Israeli treatment of Palestinians resonates with a lot of Irish people (especially in Northern Ireland) but in reality Israeli treatment of Palestinians has been\* far worse\* in living memory than British treatment of the Irish and also Palestinian hostility and actions against the Israelis have been of an order of magnitude higher than anything seen Northern Ireland or Britain. In some ways I think Irish Republicans use solidarity with Palestine to legitimise themselves. > > The Northern Ireland situation perhaps offers something of a lesson for Israel/Palestine, without coming to an equitable status quo amongst the communities there may never be lasting peace. And indeed it isn’t uncommon to see a Palestine flag in Republican areas or an Israeli flag flying in Loyalist/Unionist areas. What I meant by “really weird” was about having Middle East politics on the brain in a very personal way and being _extremely_ tuned in, even though it’s far away and has no real local effect. (Maybe I’m just biased because I find Middle East politics to be ungodly boring, and have a suspicion that the conflicts are kept going by the constant media attention) ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2010, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-is-surprising-how-many-people-think-the-jews-control-the-world-us-etc/543871/40 "2010-06-21T12:29:07Z")
> [@LC\_Strawhouse](#): > > What I meant by “really weird” was about having Middle East politics on the brain in a very personal way and being _extremely_ tuned in, even though it’s far away and has no real local effect. > > (Maybe I’m just biased because I find Middle East politics to be ungodly boring, and have a suspicion that the conflicts are kept going by the constant media attention) Ah ok, but those events are consistently reported on the news in a way, Burma or the Congo or trouble spots elsewhere aren’t. I’d say from a European perspective, mediawise, Israel is considered the edge of Europe. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-is-surprising-how-many-people-think-the-jews-control-the-world-us-etc/543871.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-is-surprising-how-many-people-think-the-jews-control-the-world-us-etc/543871.md?page=3)