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Webb Canyon Chronicle

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The 2024 election and the “culture wars”: where do Webbies stand? — Part Two

We also looked at three important foreign policy issues in the United States concerning its support of Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan. Webb students generally support increasing or keeping aid the same, which is the current democratic platform of Joe Biden.

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We also looked at three important foreign policy issues in the United States concerning its support of Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan.  

Webb students generally support increasing or keeping aid the same, which is the current democratic platform of Joe Biden.  

American military aid to Ukraine should 

  Overall  VWS  WSC  Day students  Domestic Boarders  International Boarders 
Increase  32  35  30  34.8  35.3  20 
Stay the same  36  40  33.3  43.5  35.3  20 
Decrease  16  10  20  8.7  23.5  20 
Stop  16  15  16.7  13  5.9  40 

 

Webbies are supportive of keeping aid to Taiwan the same with a majority in support. 

American military aid to the ROC (Taiwan) should 

  Overall  VWS  WSC  Day students  Domestic Boarders  International Boarders 
Increase  26.5  31.6  23.3  27.3  35.3  10 
Stay the same  51  42.1  56.7  59.1  47.1  40 
Decrease  10.2  5.3  13.3  9.1  11.8  10 
Stop  12.2  21.1  6.7  4.5  5.9  40 

 

Webb students are very opposed to large aid to Israel with a majority wanting a decrease or stop on aid.  

American aid to Israel should 

  Overall  VWS  WSC  Day students  Domestic Boarders  International Boarders 
Increase  13.7  14.3  13.3  8.7  22.2  10 
Stay the same  23.5  19  26.7  30.4  22.2  10 
Decrease  31.4  28.6  33.3  30.4  38.9  20 
Stop  31.4  38.1  26.7  30.4  16.7  60 

 

In regard to confrontation to China, Webbies are divided, though friendlier relations are slightly preferred.  

The United States should ______ toward China 

  Overall  VWS  WSC  Day students  Domestic Boarders  International Boarders 
Be a lot tougher  7.8  55  9.7  4.3  16.7 
Be somewhat tougher  25.5  30  22.6  30.4  22.2  20 
Keep the same policy  27.5  40  19.4  34.8  27.8  10 
Become somewhat friendlier  31.4  20  38.7  30.4  22.2  50 
Become a lot friendlier  7.8  9.7  11.1  20 

 

Webb students favor a decrease in the US’s military budget with VWS, domestic boarders, and international boarders especially in support of that policy.  

The military budget should _______ 

  Overall  VWS  WSC  Day students  Domestic Boarders  International Boarders 
Increase  9.6  9.5  9.7  12.5  11.1 
Stay the same  30.8  19  38.7  33.3  27.8  30 
Moderately decrease  38.5  47.6  32.3  33.3  44.4  40 
Decrease a lot  21.2  23.8  19.4  20.8  16.7  30 

 

Education, which has become embroiled in the culture wars recently, was also a key topic of concern, and Webb students are quite divided on numerous issues here. 

Students are in favor of including race relations and oppression studies in school curriculums, however, this may change based on the wording of the question.  

Oppression studies and history of racism should form a large part of history education in the United States 

  Overall  VWS  WSC  Day students  Domestic Boarders  International Boarders 
Strongly Agree  39.6  60.9  23.3  45.8  31.6  40 
Agree  35.8  26.1  43.3  33.3  47.4  20 
Neutral  9.4  8.7  10  4.2  5.3  30 
Disagree  11.3  4.3  16.7  12.5  10.5  10 
Strongly Disagree  3.8  6.7  4.2  5.3 

 

 

Webbies are divided on the issue of gender identity and sexuality being taught at schools, though a plurality favor starting in middle school, especially among VWS students. 

Gender identity and sexuality should be included in school curriculums starting at ____________ 

  Overall  VWS  WSC  Day students  Domestic Boarders  International Boarders 
Elementary school  18.9  21.7  16.7  20.8  5.3  40 
Middle School  37.7  47.8  30  41.7  42.1  20 
High School  24.5  21.7  26.7  20.8  26.3  30 
Never  18.9  8.7  26.7  16.7  26.3  10 

 

Webb students are overwhelmingly in favor of government intervention to make college more affordable with more than 75 in support. 

The government should make college much more affordable, even at the expense of higher taxes 

  Overall  VWS  WSC  Day students  Domestic Boarders  International Boarders 
Strongly Agree  43.4  43.5  43.3  41.7  47.4  40 
Agree  32.1  34.8  30  33.3  31.6  30 
Neutral  13.2  13  13.3  16.7  5.3  20 
Disagree  9.4  8.7  10  8.3  10.5  10 
Strongly Disagree  1.9  3.3  5.3 

 

With the recent ban on race-based affirmative action in college admissions, the issue has been a constant source of debate at Webb. Students are generally in favor of a ban, especially among WSC respondents who strongly agree with one. 

Race-based affirmative action should be banned in college admissions 

  Overall  VWS  WSC  Day students  Domestic Boarders  International Boarders 
Strongly Agree  30.2  8.7  46.7  29.2  36.8  20 
Agree  24.5  34.8  16.7  25  15.8  40 
Neutral  18.9  30.4  10  12.5  26.3  20 
Disagree  13.2  8.7  16.7  12.5  15.8  10 
Strongly Disagree  13.2  17.4  10  20.8  5.3  10 

 

 

A couple of scientific issues were also discussed in the poll. 

Webbies are generally in support of Nuclear Energy, however, there are significant gender differences with WSC respondents in strong support while VWS respondents are mostly ambivalent.  

Nuclear energy should be used more often 

  Overall  VWS  WSC  Day students  Domestic Boarders  International Boarders 
Strongly Agree  30  10  43.3  26.1  29.4  40 
Agree  18  26.7  21.7  40 
Neutral  34  60  16.7  30.4  52.9  10 
Disagree  12  10  13.3  17.4  11.8 
Strongly Disagree  15  4.3  5.9  10 

 

On GMOs, Webbies are relatively apathetic, though the respondents who are not neutral are almost perfectly split on the issue with WSC respondents more in support than their VWS counterparts.  

GMOs should be used more often 

  Overall  VWS  WSC  Day students  Domestic Boarders  International Boarders 
Strongly Agree  7.8  13.3  4.3  30 
Agree  19.6  4.8  30  13  22.2  30 
Neutral  43.1  52.4  36.7  52.2  44.4  20 
Disagree  19.6  23.8  16.7  17.4  33.3 
Strongly Disagree  9.8  19  3.3  13  20 

 

On issues of climate change, Webbies support stopping the usage of fossil fuels “as soon as possible,” however they are very divided on California’s ban on the sale of gas-powered cars by 2035. 

The United States should phase out fossil fuels as soon as possible 

  Overall  VWS  WSC  Day students  Domestic Boarders  International Boarders 
Strongly Agree  41.5  43.5  40  41.7  52.6  20 
Agree  37.7  34.8  40  37.5  26.3  60 
Neutral  15.1  21.7  10  16.7  10.5  20 
Disagree  3.8  6.7  4.2  5.3 
Strongly Disagree  1.9  3.3  5.3 

 

 

California should ban the sale of gas-powered cars by 2035 

  Overall  VWS  WSC  Day students  Domestic Boarders  International Boarders 
Strongly Agree  26.9  31.8  23.3  34.8  26.3  10 
Agree  13.5  23.3  13  15.8  10 
Neutral  21.2  40.9  6.7  26.1  15.8  20 
Disagree  25  18.2  30  17.4  26.3  40 
Strongly Disagree  13.5  9.1  16.7  8.7  15.8  20 

 

Though COVID policies are now much looser, the legacy of the pandemic and Webb’s policies related to it are still a subject of much debate.  

Webb should have adopted a much looser policy on COVID-19 

  Overall  VWS  WSC  Day students  Domestic Boarders  International Boarders 
Strongly Agree  7.7  13.3  4.2  16.7 
Agree  15.4  9.1  20  16.7  5.6  30 
Neutral  28.8  27.3  30  25  27.8  40 
Disagree  32.7  50  20  33.3  38.9  20 
Strongly Disagree  15.4  13.6  16.7  20.8  11.1  10 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Finally, the poll has measured economic opinions among Webb students. 

Webbies favor raising taxes on the 1%, though international boarders are less favorable towards the idea. 

The United States should raise taxes on the 1% 

  Overall  VWS  WSC  Day students  Domestic Boarders  International Boarders 
Strongly Agree  37.7  30.4  43.3  50  31.6  20 
Agree  26.4  34.8  20  29.2  36.8 
Neutral  15.1  17.4  13.3  16.7  10.5  20 
Disagree  9.4  13  6.7  4.2  10.5  20 
Strongly Disagree  11.3  4.3  16.7  10.5  40 

 

 

On the topic of controversial leftist economics, Webb students are split over the implementation of a $1000 per month universal basic income program as proposed by George McGovern and later Andrew Yang, which have had test-runs in the LA area.  

The United States should adopt a $1000 per month universal basic income program. 

  Overall  VWS  WSC  Day students  Domestic Boarders  International Boarders 
Strongly Agree  13.5  18.2  10  20.8  5.6  10 
Agree  32.7  45.5  23.3  25  44.4  30 
Neutral  23.1  18.2  26.7  29.2  16.7  20 
Disagree  26.9  18.2  33.3  25  22.2  40 
Strongly Disagree  3.8  6.7  11.1 

 

Webbies are overwhelmingly in support of Universal Healthcare with all demographics supporting it.  

The United States should adopt a Universal Healthcare system 

  Overall  VWS  WSC  Day students  Domestic Boarders  International Boarders 
Strongly Agree  59.6  68.2  53.3  66.7  66.7  30 
Agree  21.2  18.2  23.3  20.8  11.1  40 
Neutral  11.5  4.5  16.7  8.3  11.1  20 
Disagree 
Strongly Disagree  7.7  9.1  6.7  4.2  11.1  10 

 

Webbies are relatively apathetic towards trade, however, they generally support free trade.  

The United States should adopt a more protectionist trade policy (increasing tariffs to protect domestic industry and jobs, at the expense of higher prices for consumers) 

  Overall  VWS  WSC  Day students  Domestic Boarders  International Boarders 
Strongly Agree  3.9  4.8  3.3  5.6  10 
Agree  19.6  14.3  23.3  13  22.2  30 
Neutral  39.2  57.1  26.7  47.8  44.4  10 
Disagree  31.4  23.8  36.7  34.8  22.2  40 
Strongly Disagree  5.9  10  4.3  5.6  10 

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