reply to post by tiger5
What would happen if we were to get rid of affirmative action? Everyone would know that individuals were in schools and jobs based on their ability
and merit. You would not have the subtle racism that is caused by affirmative action where the abilities of a minority were not up to par because
they were given a hand-up.
We would get rid of the gender norming with respect to the physican requirements of a job that degrade the effectiveness and productivity of certain
professions.
Where do we really have affirmative action today anyway? It has been ruled illegal to use race as a basis of admission to university or graduate
school in an overt way. It is still done covertly of course, but not overtly. You have the use of affirmative action with respect to civil service
and government employment and contracting. Thats right. Pretty much the only place you have racial and gender set-asides is the government. The
government "of the people, for the people" is the only place where people are treated unequally.
What would happen if we got rid of affirmative action? Nothing other than the fact that race relations would improve.
As far as the "old black folks" go, I have no doubt that there was serious racism that needed to be countered and that at a time in our history,
affirmative action was needed. It is not needed today.