Affirmative action: Reverse racism or concessions for past atrocities?

[Ben Kenobi]

People didn't notice the change over the years in the basis for AA that those supporting it have said?

Doesn't force a change of argument from detractors although it does give some insight into the proponents of AA.

[Japher]

Also,

the reason why AA still exists today is no longer to improve economic oppurtunities but rather for 'diversity' in colleges.

How diverse is divers? Over the years the playing field has been made evener, but equal opportunity does need mean equal success! Many minorities want equal representation, not based on the statistic of society, but based on their own opinions. I.e. 50% of all colleges should be white and 50% should be of one specific minority... Why don't they see that the word minority means that they are not equal to 50% of the population and should therefore not be equal to 50% of the institutions (public and private). I'm all for equal representation as long as it a)is based on statistical facts, and b)is not a proponent of equal success laws/stadards/what have you... I urge equal opportunity, and AA just does not give it and should no longer exist.

[Al B. Sure!]

Obi-Wan:

if anything it harms the AA position. Many conservatives are in favour of some level of AA but only to address inoppurtunities, not to create 'diversity' which is founded on the very racist idea that individuals represent a race... ie- we need another asian in the class discussion because they will bring a new perspective in. two whites can be more different than a white and an asian.


Japher:

That kind of idea always bothered me... i swear sometimes people (who also seem to only think in terms of black and white ignoring hispanics, asians, etc.) seem to have the idea that half of people in gov't should be black and the other half should be white because these groups are somehow very distinct. in truth, only about 15% of politicians should be black if you want to make things reflect society.

though personally, i think individuals are individuals and we need to stop thinking in group-think... it's ironic that pro-AA liberals and racists seem to agree on the same thing... that the individual is only a product of his skin-tone

[Ned]

The problem with affirmative-action in the workplace, whether private or government, is that businesses are supposed to provide high quality products and services to others. Thus performance alone should be the criteria for employment and advancement.

But I support equal opportunity. If we are not going to provide a college education for all, I think we should reserve a few spaces for the disadvantaged. The disadvantaged can be defined as any identifiable group that is underrepresented in corporate management and in any government position that calls for a college education.

I think is demonstrably clear that American blacks have been underrepresented in American business and in the government. Until this changes, I think that equal opportunity requires that blacks have the benefits of affirmative-action in colleges and universities.

But, this is where my support for affirmative-action ends. I think that businesses should be free to hire the right person for job. However if businesses continually hire less qualified whites over better qualified blacks, I think they could be sued for racial discrimination which the courts could remedy by the use of affirmative-action.

[Ben Kenobi]

that the individual is only a product of his skin-tone

Yes. The old AA proponents are racist line. Very true.