Reply #33: 4% of the United States population is WASP

[shaayecanaan]

that is to say, of Anglican or Presbyterian background. They are a small minority.

18% of the US Congress is Anglican or Presbyterian.

75% of the 43 American Presidents were Anglican or Presbyterian or converts from same (eg George W Bush).

18% of Fortune 500 CEOs are Anglican or Presbyterian.

As a result of WASP domination amongst the business, cultural and political elite, the foreign policy of the US has traditionally favoured Britain to a very significant extent, even though demographically, Germans actually constitute the largest white ethnic constituency in the US.

Examples:-

1)US participation in both World War I and World War II were at various times decidedly unpopular. Prior to Pearl Harbour, 77% of the US population opposed any intervention in World War II.

The nature of American participation in the war, and in particular its emphasis on the European war as the first priority, even though Japan presented a much larger threat to the US, was the direct result of efforts by WASP politicians, particularly Roosevelt, who, whilst of Dutch extraction, was both an Anglican and an anglophile.

Even prior to the intervention, American actions such as its protection of allied shipping were critical to Britain's war effort, which was dependent on the US for 60% of its food imports.

2) The UKUSA intelligence community originally consisted of Britain. It was eventually extended to the other Anglo-Saxon nations. There was some reservation about Canada, given its large Francophone population. WASPs still tend to dominate the intelligence agencies in both countries.

3) Originally, the US was not particularly concerned at Saddam Hussein's intent to take over Kuwait. Saddam himself only embarked on the endeavour after receiving a "diagonal nod" from the American ambassador of the time. However, British oil producers such as BP with interests in the region were extremely upset, and it was their reaction (along with the Saudis) which more than anything prompted the US to take action.

My question is: do you find anything remotely contentious about any of the above?