Affirmative Action - is it ruining our country?

[xBiffx]

Affirmative action is just the PC way of saying racism. Is it any more racist for me to deny a person a job based on the color of their skin than it is for me to give someone a job because of the color of their skin? You say that denying a job is harmful while giving them that job is helpful. Is it? Is it really helpful for me to give someone a job because of the color of their skin and further support the idea that they are somehow different? Is it helpful for me to give someone a job because of the color of their skin which further enhances a belief that they are special and need to be taken care of? Is it helpful for me to give someone a job based on the color of their skin which then encourages them to look at things based on skin color and further use that description to categorize others?

I say no, it is not helpful and can be considered reverse racism rather than affirmative action. Either way you look at it, it is still racism.

 

[Lithium381]

UC Berkeley College Republicans Hold ‘Diversity Bake Sale’, Mock Race

http://www.cnn.com/2011/09/26/us/california-racial-bake-sale/

gah! as a white guy i supposedly have more "opportunity" in life, i just have to pay more for it....typicall all of it while my darker brothers get a free ride!

 

[HomerJS]

Since the GOP didn't bother to come up with an alternative when AA was conceived they've lost the right to bitch.

 

[fskimospy]

I love seeing the myopic people brought out by this. There are tons of affirmative action policies that help white people like legacy admissions, geographic preferences, etc, but those are NEVER argued against. Instead it's the poor white guy who is terribly picked on by society.

Silliness.

 

[mountains]

AA isn't about 'skin color' or 'punishment'. It's about addressing current disadvantage.

Which runs into some serious problems. Are South African or Nigerian immigrants as disadvantaged as African Americans from the inner city? Are poor African Americans more disadvantaged than whites in rural Appalachia? No matter how you look at it, AA is a pretty inefficient tool at addressing what is an actual problem in society.

 

[Todd33]

AA is a myth, I have not seen or heard of it being applied for twenty years.

 

[senseamp]

No.

 

[Infohawk]

I love seeing the myopic people brought out by this. There are tons of affirmative action policies that help white people like legacy admissions, geographic preferences, etc, but those are NEVER argued against. Instead it's the poor white guy who is terribly picked on by society.

Silliness.

So what's your conclusion? That AA is good? Or are you just whining about hypothetical inconsistencies people have?

Personally, I think legacy is ridiculous and if a school practices it they should get zero federal funding / grants. One issue is that it's not a very widely observed problem. It's really an issue at highly competitive private schools (like Ivies) where most Americans never go.

That doesn't make AA right though. I'm not sure the arguments were ever good enough for it but at this point in history it's getting especially ridiculous, especially when white people are becoming a plurality.

 

[Spikesoldier]

How much achievement would you feel if you were placed as that 'token' <insert race here> guy at corp XYZ - if you at least had the knowledge of how this program works and is implemented.

Craig doesnt know what achievement is, nor what it means to actually earn something - I can see why he has no problem being AT P&N's token extremist LoLiberal asshole.

 

[SSSnail]

If you use just unemployment numbers as a metric then it might seems skewed, but if you count other factors such as the willingness to work, education and skills level then you would have the whole picture.

Why would anyone, or company has to hire someone just because they have to fill a certain arbitrary quota? Same with schools, why would anyone be admitted because they're "special"and not by their own merits?

 

[JS80]

UC Berkeley College Republicans Hold ‘Diversity Bake Sale’, Mock Race

http://www.cnn.com/2011/09/26/us/california-racial-bake-sale/

What a stupid pricing structure. In real life Asian men are paying $10.

 

[Jaskalas]

Affirmative Action - is it ruining our country?

Affirmative action is racism. If you think racism ruins this country, then absolutely.

 

[Matt1970]

Can you imagine what would happen if we had Affirmative Action in the NFL or the NBA?

 

[alphatarget1]

It hurts Asians the most so naturally no one gives a shit.

QFT.

 

[hal2kilo]

I've seen more white women reap the rewards of AA than I have seen any male minorities.

 

[HendrixFan]

Affirmative action is racism. If you think racism ruins this country, then absolutely.

Yes, just like talking about different tax rates for different wage levels is class warfare. Beyond talking points, AA has nothing to do with racism. It is the anti-racism.

 

[xBiffx]

Yes, just like talking about different tax rates for different wage levels is class warfare. Beyond talking points, AA has nothing to do with racism. It is the anti-racism.

Anti-racism it isn't. Reverse racism it is, which is still racism. It is not trying to stop racism or go against it which would fit your anti description. AA just changes the target of racism, nothing more.

 

[senseamp]

Affirmative action is great. Gives white people an excuse, they can always just blame their troubles on AA. That's better for their psychological well being than blaming themselves.

 

[hal2kilo]

Affirmative action is great. Gives white people an excuse, they can always just blame their troubles on AA. That's better for their psychological well being than blaming themselves.

I betcha if we really stretch we could blame the current economy on AA.

 

[xBiffx]

Affirmative action is great. Gives white people an excuse, they can always just blame their troubles on AA. That's better for their psychological well being than blaming themselves.

Yep, I blame white people that let it be passed into law each and every time I see it used.

 

[HendrixFan]

Anti-racism it isn't. Reverse racism it is, which is still racism. It is not trying to stop racism or go against it which would fit your anti description. AA just changes the target of racism, nothing more.

So do you think that by freeing slaves we leveled the playing field?

 

[sactoking]

Can you imagine what would happen if we had Affirmative Action in the NFL or the NBA?

Punters, kickers, 3 point line?

 

[QuantumPion]

I love seeing the myopic people brought out by this. There are tons of affirmative action policies that help white people like legacy admissions, geographic preferences, etc, but those are NEVER argued against. Instead it's the poor white guy who is terribly picked on by society.

Silliness.

Don't forget Davis Bacon and Organized Labor!

Whom do you think labor was organizing against during the great depression? Why, minorities that were willing to work for a lower wage of course.

 

[QuantumPion]

Anti-racism it isn't. Reverse racism it is, which is still racism. It is not trying to stop racism or go against it which would fit your anti description. AA just changes the target of racism, nothing more.

I direct you to the post directly proceeding yours:

Affirmative action is great. Gives white people an excuse, they can always just blame their troubles on AA. That's better for their psychological well being than blaming themselves.

See, AA doesn't even reverse the target of racism. It just makes previously non-racist whites racist again by bringing in the notion of doubt to any successful blacks. The KKK couldn't have done a better job of it if they tried.

 

[senseamp]

See, AA doesn't even reverse the target of racism. It just makes previously non-racist whites racist again by bringing in the notion of doubt to any successful blacks. The KKK couldn't have done a better job of it if they tried.

If AA is gone, they'll find some other reason to be racist. If people don't want to face up to their own failures, they'll always find a scapegoat. Trying to appease them by reversing AA is a waste of time.