Affirmative Action

[KukriKhan]

Affirmative Action (AA) is a repugnancy. Discrimination to counter discrimination is both theoretically obtuse and practically horrid as it perpetuates a victim mentality and breeds dependency. Race itself is a false category.

No argument with any of those 3 sentences. If the post-civil war men in power had held the same enlighted mindset, AA would never have been necessary. But they didn't, so it was.

The only other course to reconciliation and integration I can think of is: monetary compensation. And I submit, that a single generation of AA policies in education and work, is cheaper, more goal-directed, and less fiscally-onerous than trying to figure out a proper amount to pay out.

[Pindar]

No argument with any of those 3 sentences. If the post-civil war men in power had held the same enlighted mindset, AA would never have been necessary. But they didn't, so it was.

The only other course to reconciliation and integration I can think of is: monetary compensation. And I submit, that a single generation of AA policies in education and work, is cheaper, more goal-directed, and less fiscally-onerous than trying to figure out a proper amount to pay out.

Hello Master KuriKhan,

It appears you agree AA is theoretically absurd. The 'necessary' referent above would appear to be a practical appeal. If we follow this line of thought it would seem to be that discrimination is acceptable to redress the evils of the past. How does one determine the necessary condition has been met? Is it based on a time line (a number of years equal to slavery in the Republic?), Is it based on economic standing: X number of the educated oppressed have met economic standing Y? Would this have to be periodically checked so that any dip below Y would constitute a reintroduction of AA? How does one even determine proper benefitee status? Is it any drop of African blood or only Sub-Saharan African ancestry? Is it 1/32 oppressed ancestry, 1/16, 1/8, 1/2 that would constitute government largess? Does AA apply to any minority or only those traceable to the Civil War? What does one do with minorities that despite their own history of oppression in the U.S. nonetheless succeed in university: do we restrict/bar Asians because their too successful?

Rather than embracing absurdities and getting lost in a practical bog it is preferable to understand under basic jurisprudence one cannot be prosecuted for doing something that was legal at one time or expect redress for the same. If times change (as seems the case with the twin evils or slavery and segregation) then best to move on and let each be accounted for the content of his character rather than the color of his skin. Recognize the evils of the past by not repeating them: discrimination is an example.

[KukriKhan]

Honorable Pindar:

You've adroitly addressed both the philosophical and practical pitfalls of using an "evil" (discrimination based on group membership) to combat an "evil" (discrimination based on group membership). I'm certain we agree there, and can only imagine with horror, if, at this late date, a one-time financial compensation scheme were proposed to remedy past discrimination.

When I read:

...If times change (as seems the case with the twin evils or slavery and segregation) then best to move on and let each be accounted for the content of his character rather than the color of his skin. Recognize the evils of the past by not repeating them...

I found myself nodding my head "yes". But:

such accounting and recognition must start from a position of equal opportunity for all participants in such a society. We have not yet achieved that position, or at least we have not held that wider door of opportunity open long enough so that those previously discriminated against, who want to avail themselves of this temporary preference, may.

In short, I only say: Let AA continue until 2012 (40 years after the 1972 statutes, etc were enacted). Then revisit the issue. Anyone who has not taken advantage of AA policies by then: "Too bad, so sad. This is as level a playing field as we can achieve within our (american) system."

[Goofball]

Man, this is a topic I really hate. I hate it because I see and agree with statements to the effect of "AA is a racist policy and should not exist." But at the same time, I can't block from my mind the thought that those making those statements often are not acknowledging the fact that the other (the home grown, non-leglislated, I'm not comfortable with you because you are brown) kind of racism still exists.

It would be impossible to prove one way or the other, because I don't think there would be any available statistics, but I believe that for every nice white boy who didn't get into uni because he was white, there is a nice black boy who didn't get the job because he was black.

That's only my feeling, so please don't ask me to prove it, but feel free to disagree.

There is no happy answer to the AA question.

[Scurvy]

Man, this is a topic I really hate. I hate it because I see and agree with statements to the effect of "AA is a racist policy and should not exist." But at the same time, I can't block from my mind the thought that those making those statements often are not acknowledging the fact that the other (the home grown, non-leglislated, I'm not comfortable with you because you are brown) kind of racism still exists.

It would be impossible to prove one way or the other, because I don't think there would be any available statistics, but I believe that for every nice white boy who didn't get into uni because he was white, there is a nice black boy who didn't get the job because he was black.

That's only my feeling, so please don't ask me to prove it, but feel free to disagree.

There is no happy answer to the AA question.

My thoughts exactly

[Devastatin Dave]

Kill Whitey!!!!

[Spino]

Man, this is a topic I really hate. I hate it because I see and agree with statements to the effect of "AA is a racist policy and should not exist." But at the same time, I can't block from my mind the thought that those making those statements often are not acknowledging the fact that the other (the home grown, non-leglislated, I'm not comfortable with you because you are brown) kind of racism still exists.

It would be impossible to prove one way or the other, because I don't think there would be any available statistics, but I believe that for every nice white boy who didn't get into uni because he was white, there is a nice black boy who didn't get the job because he was black.

That's only my feeling, so please don't ask me to prove it, but feel free to disagree.

There is no happy answer to the AA question.

Part of the problem is the monochromatic example you have applied to the AA equation. AA may be a blessing to Blacks and (to a lesser extent) Hispanics and a bane to Whites but in some instances it can be a veritable roadblock for Asians, especially East Asians. The racial quotas that apply to Asians have a tendency to match their overall population which is roughly 3-4%. In the aftermath of Proposition 209 Asian enrollment in California schools increased across the board. In the case of California's more prestigious schools Asian enrollment jumped dramatically with their representation in the matriculating freshman class far outstripping their representation in the overall population. Based on the US census Asians outperform every other racial group with respect to academic achievement and socioeconomic standing. Being shoehorned into a 3-4% quota clearly isn't helping Asians make the most out of their efforts in what, for all intents and purposes, should be a purely meritocratic environment.

[AntiochusIII]

I dunno. If I can convince them that me, a first-generation Asian immigrant of the United States with no prior contact or ancestral link with it whatsoever, has an Indian blood in me, I'd get into whatever University I want for the hell of it.

[Goofball]

Part of the problem is the monochromatic example you have applied to the AA equation. AA may be a blessing to Blacks and (to a lesser extent) Hispanics and a bane to Whites but in some instances it can be a veritable roadblock for Asians, especially East Asians. The racial quotas that apply to Asians have a tendency to match their overall population which is roughly 3-4%. In the aftermath of Proposition 209 Asian enrollment in California schools increased across the board. In the case of California's more prestigious schools Asian enrollment jumped dramatically. Based on the US census Asians outperform every other racial group with respect to academic achievement and socioeconomic standing. Being shoehorned into a 3-4% quota clearly isn't helping Asians make the most out of their efforts in what, for all intents and purposes, should be a purely meritocratic environment.

I dispute nothing that you say.

The other reason I really hate the topic of AA is that, unlike with just about every other issue in the world, I find myself unable to form a solid opinion and take a stand.

Everytime I think I might be leaning one way or the other, somebody points out another facet of the situation such as you have just done, which makes me have to start all over with the problem.

But it usually comes back to being unable to justify eliminating completely the mandating of minority hiring, while still hating that there is a need for it.

The current system ensures that somebody is always getting the crappy end of the stick. I guess for me it just comes down to weighing up who would suffer most from said crappy end.

Maybe the answer is to have affirmative action based not upon race, but on family income?

I don't know.

[whyidie]

I found myself nodding my head "yes". But:

such accounting and recognition must start from a position of equal opportunity for all participants in such a society. We have not yet achieved that position, or at least we have not held that wider door of opportunity open long enough so that those previously discriminated against, who want to avail themselves of this temporary preference, may.

Very nice.

[rory_20_uk]

So, you're going to the doctor who is going to do bypass surgery on you. Would you go for the doctor who regardless of age, gender, race, sexual orientation is good, or are you happy to go to the other one, who has been having the AA leg up since 16; grades notably lower but gets in anyway.

And if you take the "oh, Medicine is different" then do you want the lawyer who isn't as good, or the plumber, or whatever who is where they are not on ability but merely as they're keeping the numbers up?

Or is it that as an idea it's fine - but with the caveat that you'll never be on the receiving end of their potentially substandard services.

[Scurvy]

So, you're going to the doctor who is going to do bypass surgery on you. Would you go for the doctor who regardless of age, gender, race, sexual orientation is good, or are you happy to go to the other one, who has been having the AA leg up since 16; grades notably lower but gets in anyway.

But without it the opposite might occur, the good doctor is infact bad, but got the job over the better doctor who would have got a leg up from the AA, and who without it would not have been employed because of the employers discrimination etc. - its difficult

[Spino]

But without it the opposite might occur, the good doctor is infact bad, but got the job over the better doctor who would have got a leg up from the AA, and who without it would not have been employed because of the employers discrimination etc. - its difficult

Yes but the fact that non-white ethnic groups like Chinese, Koreans and Indians are doing so well in the States should tell you that race based discrimination has been severely curtailed to the point where it is the exception and not the rule. When the best and brightest the US has to offer are overwhelmingly 'off-white' in character it's safe to say that the glass ceiling has been effectively shattered.

[whyidie]

So, you're going to the doctor who is going to do bypass surgery on you. Would you go for the doctor who regardless of age, gender, race, sexual orientation is good, or are you happy to go to the other one, who has been having the AA leg up since 16; grades notably lower but gets in anyway.

And if you take the "oh, Medicine is different" then do you want the lawyer who isn't as good, or the plumber, or whatever who is where they are not on ability but merely as they're keeping the numbers up?

Or is it that as an idea it's fine - but with the caveat that you'll never be on the receiving end of their potentially substandard services.

1) Do those who benefit from AA have substantially lower grades prior to admission ?
2) Do those who benefit from AA have substantially lower grades post admission ?