Affirmative Action ... yes or no?

[sunndoggy8]

Is Affirmative Action a correct method in making both the workforce and even society more equal for all races? Just curious...

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~~~~"The dumber people think you are, the more surprised they're going to be when you kill them." -Unknown~~~~

[The Blowhard]

It's social engineering at it's worst. It's just a way for the wealthy elitist industrialists to divide the working class and the poor.
There is nothing affirmative about it. Judging an individual by skin color or gender is racist and sexist. It also lowers standards, and the brightest and the best suffer. I'm a white male..why should I be punished by being passed over for a job or promotion on the basis of my skin color or gender?



http://members.aol.com/slipknot4twenty/hecksig

"Back off Beaver, you little creep"

[sunndoggy8]

But to play devils advocate, Heckler, how then do individuals who are minorities succeed in a workforce of primarily white individuals? It's known that minorities mainly do live in areas with less than average schooling and opportunities.

How can these individuals succeed when those of equal intelligence who are getting better schooling? Are these people just doomed because life is unfair, or is there another method for them to get the same chance as every other race?

I understand what you're saying regarding being passed over for a job because of a # on a paper. Quota's I disagree with completely as well, and while affirmative action is usually associated with quotas, I think there is more to it than that.

And while the brightest and the best suffer with it, I don't think it's always the situation in which you mentioned. It's really a tough issue, in my opinion, to come to a conclusion about. At least for me :)


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~~~~"The dumber people think you are, the more surprised they're going to be when you kill them." -Unknown~~~~

[The Blowhard]

It's a very hard problem to solve Sunny. There are more white people living in poverty in this country than any other group, and any type of "reverse discrimination" is wrong. In my opinion, it's all a matter of economics. The so called "affirmative action" programs should benefit the needy, not broad brushing a particular race or gender. Whenever the government gets ivolved, things usually get messy. The same politicians who support "social engineering" are usually wealthy, send their children to private schools and live in "ivory towers". It's a very complicated issue, and one that will continue to be for a very long time. Sad to say, life's not fair.

http://members.aol.com/slipknot4twenty/hecksig

"Back off Beaver, you little creep"

[HordeKing1]

Affirmative Action? That's a big negatory.

Affirmative action, while a nice concept in theory, ultimately hurts those it is desinged to help.

My big problem with affirmative action is it's blatent assumption that blacks, women and certain other groups CANNOT perform as well as white males and therefore should be held to a lower standard.

Why should a person in this catagory, strive for excellence when he has a good chance of being accepted solely on the basis of his skin color or gender?

It is also reverse discrimination with a more qualified, more deserving white candidate being shut out of an opportunity in favor of a much less qualified candidate who happens to fit a certain minority profile.

One of the compelling arguments against affirmative action is the end results of the program. Black guys accepted into medical school, despite poor grades and poor MCAT scores are often coddled through school, with teachers frightened of doing anything but passing them, as it might be seen to be discriminatory. Personally I'd rather have a more qualified doctor treating me.

That's not to say that there aren't many terrific doctors who didn't get their opportunity through affirmative action. But look were these doctors are now. The vast overwhelming number of them, have left the community they grew up in and moved into considereably more affluential neighborhoods. They practice there as well.

That was never the goal of affirmative action. The plan was to have the minority doctors return to their neighborhoods to fill the dire need for qualified health personell there. It hasn't worked out that way.

As with many government programs, the intentions and goals are good, but the execution and end results are not.

http://members.aol.com/slipknot4twenty/hking

[Pootertoot]

Affirmative Action isn't a problem, unless black people decide to start working.

Oh, come on, I'm kidding. We all know Girl Germs is the only racist around here.

<img src="http://members.aol.com/muldermanx/images/gotballoon2.gif">

[girl germs]

<b>i am not racist!</b>

i am, however, a man-hater. but that's ok because we all know that men are weak and far inferior to women. so it's ok to hate them.

<p align="center"><font size="0" face="tahoma"><b>"i can smell soap. i can <a href="http://www.vforvendettarocks.org/v4vnav.html">add and divide</a>. i can reduce to <a href="http://www.vforvendettarocks.org/v4vnav.html">fundamental claims</a>. so it doesn't make sense to talk about chairs."</b></font></p>

[Pootertoot]

That's not what you last night, Ms. Germs...

Oh wait..that is what you said last night, and then you spit in my face. Bastard.

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