"You were passed over for a minority student with lower test scores, a mediocre class rank, no community service, and a criminal record."

Well that's not too likely. You're more likely to be passed over for one of the Cosby kids. Affirmative action usually gives the edge to a minority in a hiring situation if both candidates are equally qualified. So, you end up giving advantages to those minorities who have already demonstrated their aptitude. As likely as not, they'll have come from the middle or upper class.

Of course, one of the goals of affirmative action was to get minorities past the good old boy system that excluded them. The idea was that by moving up the educational and professional ladder, they'd leave it in place for others to come up after them. That has probably happened somewhat.

Still, the people who really need help with their education and career prospects are at the lower socio-economic end of the spectrum, and of all races. College and workplace preferences don't help them much.

Overall, I'm not in favor of affirmative action because you should try to make achievement as race neutral as possible. Plus, it makes white boys feel sad and victimized, and nobody needs that.