Affirmative Action - is it ruining our country?

[SSSnail]

Why do people few the need to reward, or punish others based on their race or gender or other metrics that have nothing to do with what the person is being considered for?

 

[Spikesoldier]

"To make up for generations of unequal opportunity".

How is this any different than forcing white people go work in the cotton fields to make up generations of slavery?

 

[guyver01]

---------------> P&N

 

[JS80]

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

 

[Saint Nick]

I would say it is ruining our country.

 

[lxskllr]

It's a violation of the core principles of this country. It isn't ruining anything by itself, but that, along with other violations is carving away everything that made the USA stand out amongst the rest.

 

[Spikesoldier]

AA is a little less relevant now that Barrack Hussein Obama, a black man, has become President of the United States.

I wish that he would repeal AA considering he is the premier example that anyone can achieve regardless of the color of their skin or national origin.

 

[dullard]

With a black unemployment rate 2.25 times that of whites, I'd say affirmative action isn't used enough to be benficial or harmful. I can't think of any company that I've dealt with that has any form of affirmative action any more. The closest would be the university which has some scholarships, but it is race-blind otherwise (it is illegal in Nebraska for government entities to use it).

 

[JS80]

AA is a little less relevant now that Barrack Hussein Obama, a black man, has become President of the United States.

I wish that he would repeal AA considering he is the premier example that anyone can achieve regardless of the color of their skin or national origin.

Less relevant? He's the epitome of AA. He accomplishes nothing throughout his life yet gets to go to Columbia and Harvard for free and becomes POTUS.

Less relevant you say?

 

[Kadarin]

In my opinion, affirmative action is a bad idea that shouldn't be implemented. However, I don't think it's "ruining our country".

We have far more serious problems that are in fact ruining our country.

 

[lxskllr]

With a black unemployment rate 2.25 times that of whites, I'd say affirmative action isn't used enough to be benficial or harmful. I can't think of any company that I've dealt with that has any form of affirmative action any more. The closest would be the university which has some scholarships, but it is race-blind otherwise.

Many government contracts mandate a certain percentage of "special" people.

 

[dullard]

Many government contracts mandate a certain percentage of "special" people.

I edited my post too slowly. That was made illegal in my state 3 years ago. Governments (or companies working with the government) cannot use AA here.

 

[SlitheryDee]

Most of the stuff we do to ostensibly help the poor and downtrodden members of our society seems to have a negative long term effect on the country. There are a lot of other factors that are contributing to the downfall of the country though. I hardly think when we look back that we'll decide that it was affirmative action that single-handedly ruined us.

 

[highland145]

With a black unemployment rate 2.25 times that of whites, I'd say affirmative action isn't used enough to be benficial or harmful. I can't think of any company that I've dealt with that has any form of affirmative action any more. The closest would be the university which has some scholarships, but it is race-blind otherwise (it is illegal in Nebraska for government entities to use it).

Don't think that has anything to do with affirmative action or lack of.

 

[highland145]

Most of the stuff we do to ostensibly help the poor and downtrodden members of our society seems to have a negative long term effect on the country. There are a lot of other factors that are contributing to the downfall of the country though. I hardly think when we look back that we'll decide that it was affirmative action that single-handedly ruined us.

this

 

[dullard]

Don't think that has anything to do with affirmative action or lack of.

It has everything to do with lack of AA. If minorities were taking our jobs, then we'd be far closer in unemployment rates.

Lets put it another way. If every single black man was unemployed and a white man got his job (the complete opposite of AA), then there would still be 3.3 million unemployed white people. Doing the exact opposite of AA still wouldn't employ all whites. Thus, the AA isn't the problem. Lack of jobs is the problem.

 

[Spikesoldier]

Less relevant? He's the epitome of AA. He accomplishes nothing throughout his life yet gets to go to Columbia and Harvard for free and becomes POTUS.

Less relevant you say?

you missed my point.

of course hes the poster boy that AA works. if the goal was to 'appease' those naysayers and racists that say its impossible, then that goal has been accomplished. pours some water on that hot issue and indeed becomes less relevant. hopefully now they can just end the program.

 

[highland145]

It has everything to do with lack of AA. If minorities were taking our jobs, then we'd be far closer in unemployment rates.

Lets put it another way. If every single black man was unemployed and a white man got his job (the complete opposite of AA), then there would still be 3.3 million unemployed white people. Doing the exact opposite of AA still wouldn't employ all whites. Thus, the AA isn't the problem. Lack of jobs is the problem.

Sounds like you're being contradictory. Agree, lack of jobs is the primary issue. Lack of skilled workers, in some industries, is a another.

Like Kadarin said, we've got much bigger problems that AA.

 

[JS80]

you missed my point.

of course hes the poster boy that AA works. if the goal was to 'appease' those naysayers and racists that say its impossible, then that goal has been accomplished. pours some water on that hot issue and indeed becomes less relevant. hopefully now they can just end the program.

Why would they end a program that has the illusion of it working?

 

[JulesMaximus]

Less relevant? He's the epitome of AA. He accomplishes nothing throughout his life yet gets to go to Columbia and Harvard for free and becomes POTUS.

Less relevant you say?

I'm sure they just gave him his degree because he's black too. I'm sure he didn't have to work hard at all or have any intelligence to graduate from Harvard Law School with honors.

 

[dullard]

Sounds like you're being contradictory. Agree, lack of jobs is the primary issue. Lack of skilled workers, in some industries, is a another.

Like Kadarin said, we've got much bigger problems that AA.

I don't think those contradict.

1) If AA was strong (but maybe not desireable), then whites and minorities would have similar unemployment rates. If AA was abused and highly undesirable then minorities would have far lower unemployment rates. The fact that minorities have far higher unemployment rates either means that AA is either ineffective or just not really used much at all. In either case, a weak or unused AA cannot be significantly harmful or significantly beneficial.

2) AA isn't the problem with our country. Lack of jobs (and yes, as you state in some cases lack of trained personel) is the problem.

I just don't see the contradiction.

 

[Spikesoldier]

Why would they end a program that has the illusion of it working?

because AA was never a permanent long term solution. was definitely a temporary 'concession' to make up for generations of unequal opportunity in post #2.

now that the fascade or illusion that 'if ya try hard, hey even you can do it' has been placed, it is acceptable to repeal it to the clamor of those who were reverse discriminated against for years.

 

[jhansman]

How can you folks say AA is not a great thing? Why, it's staffed the TSA from top to bottom, and golly, I love to fly now.

 

[Analog]

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

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

 

[Craig234]

AA is a little less relevant now that Barrack Hussein Obama, a black man, has become President of the United States.

I wish that he would repeal AA considering he is the premier example that anyone can achieve regardless of the color of their skin or national origin.

He proves that there are no remaining effects of centuries of policies causing any black person to be at an unfair disadvantage today!

In other news, Bill Gates' rise to billionare from not having much proves no one is poor in America.

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