 Utilitarians have responded to these criticisms in a number of ways. Often they just deny the empirical claim upon which the criticism rests. So they assert that the empirical conditions are such that utility maximizing will rarely require racial minorities to sacrifice or suffer for the benefit of others, or to satisfy the prejudices of others. Relatedly, utilitarians often emphasize the long run perspective required by their theory. They may concede that short-term maximization may point to distribution on a racial basis but that this would not be welfare-maximizing in the long run and that even greater welfare can be achieved by re-educating the majority so that racist preferences weaken or disappear over time, leading to a more harmonious and happier world. In reply, it is pointed out that the utilitarian must supply an account of why racist or sexist preferences should be discouraged if the same level of total long term utility could be achieved by encouraging the less powerful to be content with a lower position. 