And the Chicago GSB Political Survey Says…
On GSB's Political Inclinations
Greg Diephouse, '08 and Bob Kakoliris, '08
Posted: 1/11/07
…Chicago MBA students are no different than American voters - they are divided. The GSB Government and Politics Group Fall Political Survey results are in and have been analyzed. The survey, conducted online and made available to each GSB student via email last December, was designed to gauge the GSB student body's political leanings, opinions on major issues, and interest in the 2008 U.S. Presidential race. With over 440 responses from the 2,500 Campus, Evening, and Weekend Chicago GSB students, the results were robust and, in most cases, interesting. Here they are.
When asked to attest to a political philosophy 30% confessed to being liberal, 30% moderate, 18% marked conservative, and a remarkable 17% were libertarian. 28% of respondents identified with the Republican Party and 39% with the Democratic Party, 8% with the Libertarian Party, and 24% with no political party. 41% of GSB students voted for John Kerry in the 2004 U.S. Presidential election, leading George Bush's 28% and the 4% who voted for a third-party candidate. 27% of GSB student's did not vote or were not eligible to vote in 2004. Those with a libertarian political philosophy voted for Bush and Kerry in even numbers and political moderates mostly sided with Kerry.
When asked to pick their most important political issues, Chicago students selected 1.) Improving the US Public Education System, 2. )the Federal Budget Deficit, 3.) Homeland Security and Terrorism, 4.) Trade Liberalization, and 5.)Controlling Health Care Spending. Less important among the broad list of 18 issues were Expanding Social Services, the Humanitarian Crisis in Darfur, Capturing Osama Bin Laden, Stopping the AIDS Pandemic, and Same-sex Marriage.
Students were asked if Congress and the President should raise the federal minimum wage (currently at $5.15/hr.) and 45% responded "no" and 40% "yes". Conservatives and libertarians opposed a minimum wage increase with liberals and moderates generally in support. On the other hand, 62% of Chicago GSB students wanted comprehensive immigration reform "that includes a path to citizenship for all illegal immigrants currently residing in the United States". Libertarians, liberals, and moderates supported comprehensive immigration reform with conservatives split. And, regarding the red-hot issue of the US's continuing involvement in Iraq, 6% were in favor of leaving immediately, 15% wanted the U.S. to stay and maintain the current troop levels, 21% preferred an increase in troop levels, 36% opted for a phased withdrawal over time, and a surprising 17% responded they would like Iraq to be split into semi-autonomous states based on ethnic boundaries, e.g. Shia Arab, Sunni, Kurd, etc.
Finally, it's never too early to speculate! When asked about the still nascent 2008 U.S. Presidential race, 39% thought that Democrats should nominate Illinois Senator Barack Obama as their 2008 Presidential Candidate and roughly half think he should enter the race. 20% thought the Democrats' best bet was New York Senator Hillary Clinton. John Edwards, Al Gore, Joseph Biden, Tom Vilsack, and John Kerry drew minimal support.
For the Republicans, a solid 45% thought that the party should nominate Arizona Senator John McCain, and former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani drew significant numbers too with 23%. A respectable 11% thought that Mitt Romney, the former Governor of Massachusetts, would be the best Republican candidate in 2008. Newt Gingrich, Condoleezza Rice, and Sam Brownback rounded out the list of potential candidates with less support.
The GSB Government & Politics Group provides, in a non-partisan manner, career development resources, learning experiences, and networking opportunities primarily to group members and persons affiliated with the University of Chicago who desire to forward a career in public service, an interest in the politics, or work that relates to governmental affairs. For more information or to get involved with GSB Government and Politics Group, contact Greg Diephouse at gdiephou@....