Affirmative Action programs: Good or Bad?

[GAsux]

Affirmative action is wrong, but not for the reason you've cited. You will lose the whole "it's not fair to white folk" argument every time. Because it's not supposed to be fair to whites. Affirmative Action isn't intended to create equality individually, as in your example. It's intent is to level the board across society as a whole and compensate for discrimination minorities currently face.

And again, it's not wrong becuse Joe Whitey didn't get a job he deserved in Podunk, Alabama because they gave it to Tom Blackie instead. That's beside the point.

IMO it's wrong for two reasons. First, although the Supreme Court disagrees with me, I don't believe it's constitutional, beneign or not. Race based classifications in law are just wrong, if you ask me. And that's what AA is, a race based classification.

Second, I believe that AA is it's current form has marginal value. It only affects a small percentage of minorities, and has virtually NO impact on the most disadvantaged people who need the most help. Additionally by using race as a classifiying factor, it will continue to serve as a flashpoint for both whites and blacks and will never end or even relieve racial tensions.

To me, using AA to create equality is like using your spare tire to fix a flat. It's a temporary fix that doesn't solve the problem. And we've been using the same spare tire for 30+ years now.