Backup OS6

I am trying to setup backup jobs to pull files from my Mac OSx machine, from the User, Library, and Application folders, but Permissions are a real bear.  The User Folder backup job fails regularly, mostly with "Permission denied!" messages, and mostly on user/library/application support/ files, on many, many .plist files, as well as on many other file-types.

Of course, the Mac crowd says there's certainly not anything wrong with their permissions, that I must elevate the permissions of the backup program.  

I think this is a classic case of, "it's the other guys fault," which, of course, leaves the frustrated user in the middle, watching two guys point fingers at each other, neither offering any real help.

Can anyone offer answers, thoughts, or other wisdom that might point me in the right direction?

Thanks