Don't you mean reverse racism?

While affirmative action and its variants had its place in the past to make things equal, I believe those times are past. Equal footing under the law should be the new way of doing business.

End it. I had to join the military to finance my education after recieving grades that would have gotten a woman or minority scholarships. Am I supposed to like that and support that fact?

Disgust, I would hardly call your sources impartial: The National Center for Policy Analysis is a conservative think-tank—an upscale version of Fox news! Perhaps you might want to consider instead a joint study carried out by Marianne Bertrand of the University of Chicago and Sendhil Mullainathan of MIT (that’s the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, in case you don’t know) that employers do discriminate against prospective employees by name. Black-sounding candidates are less likely to score interviews than white-sounding ones. Business Week, hardly a “lib” source, discusses this:

http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/03_28/ b3841114_mz057.htm

As a woman and minority, I take great offense to your assumption that women and minorities are necessarily less competent and qualified. Whatever foolish prejudices I had in highschool were quickly dismantled when I discovered that many black women at my all women’s college (back in the ‘80s) had high SATs and grades: upper 600s and lower 700s and top 15% of their highschool class, as compared to the norm of lower 600s and top 20%. In fact, come to think of it, I was even more impressed when I learned that these women did not come from upper middle class households (unlike the majority of students at my college). Later on, I’ve come to know white women with equal credentials as their male peers—same level of colleges/universities and credentials (patents, publications, etc.) receive FEWER promotions and raises. In other words, for every incompetent woman or minority I’ve encountered, I’ve seen just as many white males of the same caliber, yet I don’t hastily assume that all or even most white men are incompetent and unfairly promoted on account of their race and sex!

Altogether, I agree with Clinton, Colin Powell and Condoleeza Rice on affirmative action: mend it, don’t end it.

An UGLY practice that only serves to create more rifts in society. Because of affirmative action, when I used to work in corporate America (and when I applied to undergrad and graduate schools), I couldn't look any woman or black person in the eyes and NOT think that they got their job/education/scholarship because of entitlement programs...and NOT due to qualifications, experience, results, etc....and I'm not alone in that thought...I have met many other white men who feel the same way. AA breeds mistrust towards the "entitled" groups (women and blacks), a lack of confidence in them and encourages a spirit of non-cooperation when creating "diverse" (the liberal utopia) teams in the workplace. The practice of affirmative action should be ended immediately if any advances in race and gender relations are to occur in this country. In my mind, every woman and black employee and student in the US should work hard to remove affirmative action programs so they can be looked upon not as the recipient of work or an education to an unqualified and suspect individual, but respected for their qualifications and achievements.

UPDATE after "Somalicat" posting (3/20/07):

If you honestly think that women "still earn 75 cents to a man's dollar", then you need to do some reading and research once in a while and stop listening to the Today Show, CNN, feminists, college professors, etc...and think for yourself.

When you factor in college education, total time in the workforce, hours per week, overtime, number of children, willingness to work difficult hours, willingness to be away from the family, willingness to work difficult and dangerous jobs, etc...when you can ACTUALLY compare APPLES to APPLES...then, in most studies, women come out around $.98 and up to $1.02 to a man's dollar (depending on study).

If, in fact, YOUR premise WAS true...companies would only hire women...they could save 25 cents for every dollar. AND, if you truly believe that women OVERALL earn 75 cents for every man's dollar (no factors considered)...THEN you have just taken away the hated feminists Holy Grail...CHOICE.

So take your pick and get off your high horse. Either way, please stop spreading lies. Women who earn less in 2007 are doing so by CHOICE.

Some references (put together quickly, not a comprehensive resource list):

http://www.ncpa.org/pub/ba/ba392/ http://www.iwf.org/issues/issues_detail.asp?Article ID=750 http://www.iwf.org/issues/issues_list.asp?sType=73 http://abcnews.go.com/2020/GiveMeABreak/story?id=79 7045&page;=1

Updated (3/20/07) after Randyman post:

Judge me all you’d like, Randyman...if that’s what you're doing.

I started my first full-time business at 19 years old (that was roughly 16 years ago) with a friend (both of us invested roughly $1500 each). I still maintain that business today.  It is service based, which explains the low start up cost. My $1500 investment was earned by me not given to me in any way. I EARNED it. Then I created MORE with that investment, which allowed me to invest in other areas like real estate. Today, in addition to my service-based business and real estate investments, I am preparing to open and operate a restaurant/bar with money that I earned. That is my version (and many others) of the American way, earn the money on your own, then create more with it. My parents taught me a strong work ethic and I learned early on that is the only way to succeed (because I didn’t want handouts, nor would I be getting any). I am far from rich, but I do know that I created what I have and that makes me happy because I can look in the mirror and be proud…no government handouts, no SBA loans or grants (that in most cases are offered to women and minorities only), no pity parties, nothing…just ideas that might or might not work, building business plans, attracting and maintaining customers and building relationships.

As soon as we get rid of the original Affirmative Action, AKA "The Good Ol' Boy" system, then we can get rid of the second one. I want to be able to look you in the eye too, Disgust4PCness and know you got the job because you were qualified too.  I'll bet I've been disgusted longer than you.

It may have been needed in the 60's and 70's but not today. I go to a state college and was put on the waiting list at first. There are minorities who simply shouldn't be there. They never show up to class and are constantly failing. Perhaps the best thing for them is to get rid of affirmative action and leave them be. Let them succeed on their own instead of putting them somewhere that they may not be ready for. Affirmative action hurts more than it helps.

I believe there are many in opinion against Affirmative action and state so, HOWEVER what even gave the average star earning just over 2 stars is that people who don't support it should be rating affirmative action 1 or 2 stars. I believe they are rated it wrong thinking the more stars is aligned with the strength of thier opinion not aligned with for or against it.... READ & RATE properly!!!

I just read most of the posts here. and there are some very well worded stands on Affirmative Action. I may not word my feelings as well. but it seems like this has outlived it's purpose. maybe it was needed at first when minorities were flat out refused opportunities.now it is discrimination in reverse. we cannot assume that all white people are rich and have terrific jobs. I can assure you this is not true. jobs should be offered for ability across the board no matter what their "race" is. I dread even having to fill in the box where I am expected to say I am "white"wondering if this will be a hinderance.Affirmative action has had it's place, not anymore.

This issue had some importance at an earlier time, but has outlived its usefulness. Opportunity and advancement in education, career, etc., should be based on merit, not on some well-meaning but unwarranted Whiteman's Guilt. It has been shown that preferential treatment for any specific group does not translate in an aggregate positive effect for all, if anything, such inequitable measures are more damaging than beneficial, as mediocrity is embraced by quota systems.

The concept of affirmative action fails on two levels, socially and legally. Affirmative action fails socially for the simple reason that it has either already worked to the point of obsolescence or it has been tried long enough without success. As many of the other comments have noted, AA causes resentment from whomever is considered the majority and stigma against whomever is considered the minority. This fact alone suggests that AA has reached a point of minimum return. Moreover, recent statistics seem to indicate that the playing field has largely leveled. If AA had any effect, it has done its job starting the process, and we would be advised to let natural social progress handle the rest without the baggage AA brings. As for the latter claim that AA has failed to succeed, that was directed to those who think AA helps and should be continued; however, AA has been around for several decades and generations now, and if the concept was going to work, it would have already. To see how affirmative action fails legally, one need only look at the 14th Amendment, which effectively prohibits discrimination by the state based on certain classes, including race. The courts have interpreted this to mean that the government can only discriminate against a strict scrutiny class (eg race) to further a compelling state interest and only by narrowly tailored means. In other words, no matter how noble the intent is for affirmative action, the Constitution almost universally prohibits it because of an even greater noble purpose (ie no racial discrimination by the government whatsoever). Moreover, as this issue is so hotly contested and debated, no reasonable person can claim that affirmative action laws serve a compelling need or are narrowly tailored. As some other comments have noted, one way out of this mess is to switch from race based to need based measures. Nevertheless, such measures should concentrate on younger citizens and critical mass assistance (ie that help necessary to give people a reasonable chance to succeed). The bottom line is that the days of affirmative action are over whether the concept succeeded or failed, that the program is unconstitutional today (assuming it was ever constitutional), and that there are better options with less baggage.

I understand the reasoning behind Affirmative Action - that Blacks were placed at an unbelievable disadvantage by the institution of slavery, and something needed to be done to jump start their opportunities. However, I feel strongly that Affirmative Action does more harm than good. It institutionalizes racial differences, and it gives every nitwit who is unable to find a good job a handy scapegoat. I believe in the enforcement of employment law to ensure that everyone gets a fair shake - I don't think a government mandate of different treatment for different racial groups helps anyone.

Sorry to Mr John but as the Greatest President of the 20th Century once said to a silly liberal there you go again. The fact? that less blacks were admitted to a college is proof of racism? Sorry John, how about they just weren't qualified!! Did you every think of that? Affirmative action's worse victim is actually blacks and minorities it portends to help. Minorities get accepted to colleges and into positions for which they are simply not qualified, to fill some cosmic egalitarian vision of social justice. Then instead of excelling at colleges with lower acceptance standards where they should have gone or jobs they subsequently should have eventually found, they fail out or cannot facilitate the requirements properly and are terminated in positions they should never have been given. Not to mention charges and claims of racism does not racism make. In John's lexicon these claims turn into facts which justify the mystical vision he seeks. And why do Asians who actually increased their rolls at that same college during the same period of time when supposedly all that racism was going on, then get screwed because they are what- not a protected minority? The constitutional basis for reverse discrimination is nonexistent. It has never worked anywhere in the world it has been tried from Africa to Asian to North America and it's simply counter productive.

This is one of the most odious programs ever invented. It focuses on skin color, and favors some races at the expense of others. It's unfair, unjust, and diametrically opposed to everything America should be about. The Government should treat everyone the same and get over its obsession with what people look like.

Affirmative action is wrong. If you apply for a University the playing field should be level. I don't care what color race or religion you are, admission should be based on your grades and scores not color of skin. Its the same thing for jobs, why should any one get a job just because they are a minority' the job should go to the best person for the job. If you feel you are being discriminated then complain go to the authories but don't expect to get special treatment because then you have reverse discrimination and that is just as bad.

end this mindless discrimination immediately and allow everyone the same opportunities.

No need for this anymore! There are enough civil rights laws on the books to protect minorities. Time to close the books on this sad chapter, that is in my mind, REVERSE DISCRIMINATION.

End it.

im sorry but you guys dont know what you are talking about, in first place we need afirmative action because without it, there is acism against the black people, i mean there is a fact that says that, When the ban on affirmative action was implemented at the University of California (UC)-Berkeley law school, the number of black students admitted dropped from 75 in 1996 to 14 (out of 792 applicants) in 1997; none enrolled. another thing you guys are complaining about is that you say that affirmative action equals racism against white right? well between 1990 and 1994 there were 3000 cases of racism, out of those 3000 cases only 100 were racism against white, and even worse, out of those 100 only 6 were claim valid, this was with the program of affirmative action running, imagine how would it be without it. im not trying to change your mind, you all can think whatever you want, but a fact is a fact, and the facts are there to show how affirmative action is needed in society

According to the Routledge Dictionary of Politics, affirmative action is the deliberate policy of giving preferential treatment to some groups in a society on the grounds that they have hitherto been disadvantaged either by governmental policies or as a result of popular prejudice. So in short, the logic behind Affirmative Action is that the government must be proactive in preventing discrimination based on race. There is an increasingly questionable notion that college admissions and career openings all come down to race, and thus, affirmative action is needed. However, while the idea or theory of Affirmative Action is noble, ironically, in practice, it is racist in itself. The Webster's definition of racism is the belief that race accounts for differences in human character or ability. Clearly, Affirmative Action operates on the logic that all employers and college admissions officers are racist, and thus, reverse discrimination must be implemented to promote equality. Ironically enough, Affirmative Action in practice echos this sentiment. Affirmative Action says that African Americans and other minorities are unable to make it on their own in this racist society (their merits are not enough to guarantee success). Thus, they need assistance by getting 20 or so points added to their College Entrance Exams. Furthermore, the federal government telling a company that they have to hire a certain amount of minorities, when in fact, most companies have far surpassed those numbers is completely ludicrous. Despite popular sentiment, we are not a racist society, and Affirmative Action is truly unneccessary. It operates under the assumption that a College Admissions Director is seeking to fill his school with ONLY whites, or that an employer is seeking to hire ONLY whites. The bottom line is that race should not matter. We are all born with the same abilities. We all have the ability to make something of ourselves. Of course, there's always going to be inequity in life. Some of us are going to have to struggle to make it--- both blacks and whites--- but I believe that struggle builds character. Overcoming inequity and meeting that challenge is what makes you a success. Proof that Affirmative Action is indeed reverse discrimination lies within Webster's Dictionary. The definition of discrimination is treatment or consideration based on class or category rather than individual merit. This applies to both whites and blacks. To be fair, it's obviously much harder to be an African American than it is to be a white American in today's society. However, the evil of racism and discrimination is not the solution to the past evil of racism and discrimination. The most qualified person should get the job. There are quite a few African Americans I know who have made a successful life for themselves based entirely on their own merits and personal achievements, and there are several whites I know that are deadbeats who will never make anything of themselves. So, clearly, Affirmative Action does nothing to curve racism; indeed it increases racist sentiments on both sides. The most qualified person should get the job, PERIOD.

I think there's a song called 1965. That's where this issue should be. Right now it's 2003...darn near 2004!

This is so simple, two wrongs don't make a right. If descrimination is wrong, so is reverse descrimination. When I'm born in this country and my government says I have to take a back seat to foreigners in applying to good schools for my education something is wrong.

Affirmative action is an active effort to improve the employment or educational opportunities of minority groups or women.Contrary to what many believe white women are the primary beneficiaries of it.If it truley meant group preferences as opponents so often allege, African Americans would long ago have recieved 40 arces and a mule and Native Americans would be governing vast portions of the country.

I found out recently that I am the Devil. I also seem to be known as Cracker and The Man. I am personally responsible for keeping several entire races of people from reaching their economic and education potential. I am responsible for (among many other things) the institution of slavery. I must be good at my job because every civilization in recorded history has practiced slavery at some point and it even continues today in parts of Africa and Asia. After being 'enlightened' with this information I immediately ran to my wife and begged for forgiveness for holding her and her people (she's chinese) down for so many centuries. I suggested we write letters to our congressman supporting federal AA programs so we can rectify the situation that I have caused. But it seems that I'm better at holding people back than I thought. It turns out that AA doesn't help Asian Americans, it actually penalizes them for being an over-represented minority. I am truly a sick bastard. I told these people that the AA program would fix the inequities of the past but it actually just creates more inequity. I'll be serious now. I want to pose this question to all those who support the AA program. Imagine that you were in a car accident. When the Medics arrive and you had a choice of being treated by some one who got the job based on merit or the one who got the job based on making things fair(AA). Then when you get to the hospital for surgery on the damage to your skull do you want to be treated by the doctor that got into med school based on merit or based on making things fair. Just think of some other professionals you would want to be the most qualified, Nurse, Scientists, Mechanic, Teachers, Pilots, The architect and crew that built your house and the building you work in. The point is that when it affects you personally you would want the MOST QUALIFIED PERSON helping you. Think about that the next time an ambulance speeds by. AA will only make the world a more dangerous place.

Affirmative Action is just wrong. A person should be hired or accepted to a college/university because of his worth/character, not because of his skin color or gender. The idea is a well meaning one, but the execution is bad. It is a slap in the face and basically condescending to minorities and well everyone.

We've always had affirmative action in this country. Affirmative action ABSOLUTELY isn't new. But the ACTION in this country that has been AFFIRMED has been for WHITES for over 400 years. They've owned everything,including people. All the land, horses and cattle. The right to vote, free speech and live free. Education, good jobs, fair housing...all for whites. And the ONLY qualificatioin for the PREFERENCES were..you guessed it...be born white. Now...white people HATE affirmative action. Why? Because the victims now look like them. They never cared before. They never had a problem with preferences when they were the only ones being preferred. But minorities today aren't asking for the type of affirmative action that white people had. We don't want to sell your children, blow up your churches, rape your wives, hang you from trees and own you...no this is the type of affirmative actioin that whites exercised...but minorities today only want, once qualified, to be given a fair chance to provide for our children. We want the chance that we should have had all along. But, alas, the bigots in the country, live on. White folk should stop whining about affirmative action. Wth us all being descendants and products of our environment, whites should realize that affirmative action is how they got just about everything they own.

That's kind of saying that black people are inferior to whites and need a boost-up in our country. I've known plenty of blacks who make it on their own and have their own qualifications that make them productive members of society.

I am very much against this, as I feel it is against the constitution....

Affirmative Action really promotes racial divides rather than healing them. Really this doesn't solve the problem of racial tension in America. White blame blacks for losing out on jobs and scholarships and blacks blame whites for racism and keeping them down. It's kind of like promoting a cycle of blame. I know this may sound naive, but we as a society really have got to move on beyond these silly stereotypes. The color of your skin doesn't make you superior to anyone else. The idea is primordial at it's base. Funny that the people who support affirmative action are those pooh-pooh liberal elitists who like to pat minorities on the head as if they're inferior. They are the real racists out there. The truth of the matter is that affirmative action ought to be based on economic need rather than race. After all, we can't ignore poor whites either, they don't have all the opportunities that life affords other people. The best way to see to it that minorities are more equally represented in public life is to make sure that they get a good education. Remember that this is the great equalizer in society. At the end of the day, you are judged for your ability to be self-sufficient. Really affirmative action promotes a dependency lifestyle; people don't take responsibility for their lives because they feel that the system is automatically stacked against them. Well, that attitude is wrongheaded at best, you make of your life what you to. People ought to earn a job or a scholarship on the basis of merit; that is the only fair way and in the long run it will be good for minorities. This is the only way that we can really begin to see a society that looks beyond race as a means of categorizing people. This program has done very little to solve the social ills that it sought to cure. The point ought to be to give minorities and other poor people a helping hand by encouraging and funding educational programs that help minorities. Affirmative action promotes a culture of victimization among minorities that isn't good. I'm a Hispanic and I don't believe I ought to be given preferential treatment because of my heritage. Hold your head up and you won't be discriminated against. Affirmative Action is a well-intentioned program, but like a lot of liberal social experiments, they end up only dividing us even more.

Affirmative Action is an offensive and racist procedure that the government used in order to cater to the minority community. Because of this, caucassian males who are better qualified for a job do not get it, because less qualified minorities get the job. Affirmative Action should be stopped now, to allow good old-fashioned American equality back into the picture.

It simply shouldn't exist. Any focus on race for ANY reason, be it noble or otherwise, is wrong. The very practice is racist in itself, and instances of reverse discrimination are completely opposite of its original cause. Whoever's most qualified for the job, promotion, acceptence, etc. should get it. Rewarding people for being minorities or reparations for historical oppression is absolutely ridiculous. Not only does this cause many hard-working, qualified people to miss out on what they deserve, but it also attaches a stigma to minority members who work at institutions that use this foul practice. They may or may not have been rightfully qualified for the position, but regardless of their qualifications and achievements fellow workers/students will still undoubtedly think less of them and their personal abilities. And what really gets me is that the people in favor of this trash are the very ones emphasizing a "color-blind" society. Well folks, you can't very well have a color-blind society when race is a question on applications and is deep consideration for jobs, colleges, etc.

Affirmative action is still necessary in today's age. This is not a policy that most whites will be affected by at any time in their lives. The only stories you hear in the media are the highly contested court cases which arise from it. This is not the usual affirmative action hire. Rarely does this happen anyway, and it only is theoretically supposed to happen when there is a white and a black with equal qualifications, not hiring a black "less qualified" than a white. Many white people are still afraid of people different than them, and I think many people see hiring a black person as high-risk. That is my opinion and I'm white. I hope I don't get slaughtered :)

While some form of discrimination still exists in America, I believe the problem is greatly exaggerated. Discrimination exists in every country in this world. I'm tired of Affirmative Action supporters constantly referring to charts or graphs showing wage disparity among different races and blaming that on racism. They use this type of excuse to engender support. The fact is African Americans for the most part are less devoted to academics than whites and especially to Asians. I still believe that most companies hire based on qualifications. I do not see many Asians or Mexicans complaining about racism. The reason why Asians are so successful in this country is that they study and work hard. They do not waste their energy complaining. If race quotas should exist at schools and corporations, then why doesn't it exist in the NBA, NFL, or NCAA basketball? Here is a quote from Eric Mettei, "Although many individuals will not hesitate to deny it, everyone discriminates on a daily basis. The fact of the matter is that discrimination is nothing more than the active demonstration of preference. Human interaction has been composed of discriminatory actions since the dawn of the race. Individuals make decisions and act on those decisions based on what they perceive to be most beneficial to them at a specific point in time." Instead of bringing people together, AA creates more distrust and diviseness.

This is the worst idea. All it is is punishing smart kids because they're white so less smart minorities can take their spots. Reverse racism.

Newsoul is some insecure man who cleans his bosses garbage and praises him at payday. The idea this nut would walk around in the real world talking that kind of shit is insane. No way that happens unless he already acted like a complete idiot and is in jail. Maybe they allow laptops in the rec room or maybe he is out on work release. Talk like that died in the 60s. Imagine the scene: A white cop pulls Newsoul over and rags him about crap Newsoul knows his crap. 'I won't do it again officer. I was just trying to get home to my wife and 8 kids. Please don't give me a ticket. I promise I won't do it again'. LOL. I am sure he wants us all to believe he is some bad ass but most people already know that the bigger you talk the bigger chicken you really are. Over compensating is no way to live your life. Now run along and be a good boy.

There are actually two kinds of affirmative action. There is race, and then there is class. Class is the one that people should be more focused on. With class A.A., you will eliminate the problem that race affirmitive action is trying to slove since a majority of those that are poor are among minorities. Those that are among the low income population recieve that least breaks in life and because of this, have the hardest of situations to survive. It's those people that are the most willing to work hard for what they can get. Points should be added to their resumes if they prove themselves to be a hard worker compared to college boy who, although has a nice degree, has proven to be a louse in the workplace. Despite the reality of racism, Race A.A. should not be pushed if you believe that human beings are human beings no matter what color, heritage, or gender they may be. Otherwise, some would consider supporting Race A.A. to be reverse racism.

Affirmative Action is simply reverse discrimination. Think about it. Colleges and offices who choose a person who is in a minority group over the majority are basically screwing over the majority, especially if both people are equally qualified. And what is all of this about having to make up for what caucasians have done in the past? That was the PAST- and no one from the present suffered from it. And besides that, if some minorities know they can get a job or get accepted to college because of this unfair advantage, don't you think it's possible that they won't work as hard as they have to? ANYONE would slack off if they can get what they want and don't have to do all of the work. Furthermore, affirmative action creates a stereotype that minorities need the help, and hurts not only the minorities, but can also give majorities the idea that they are superior. Affirmative action is a horrible idea, I've never heard a good arguement for it.

Affirmative Action is RACISM. If those anti-white hate-filled people (both black and white) who want to continue this racist program against whites (which incidently primarily impacts negatively poor and lower-middle class whites), then they should go over to Africa and explore what the REAL roots of slavery etc. are. The tribalism of Africa is the cause of the problem. And tribalism and slavery still exists today in Africa--which doesn't seem to concern any of the rich blacks like Jesse "Shakedown" Jackson. People in poverty have more in common, regardless of skin color, because of their needs. Racism shouldn't enter into it.

Stupid. I dont care what your skin color is, but your character is what matters. It's what's inside that counts.

Institutionalized racism."Payback","Retribution" and other forms of "making past wrongs right" are socially destructive, irrelevant, indefensible and racist by definition. Don't believe me? Try to go back to 1960 and change the word "NEGRO". It can't be done - you can't even change it to "KNEE - GROW!!!" or "MOW - FO!!". The moment has passed/ The moving hand writes - and having writ, moves on - never to return!

I condemn whoever was responsible for legalizing affirmative action recently at the Michigan campus. The 15th amendment says fairness to all, regardless of skin color or racial ethnicity. Affirmative Action basically gives monorities more rights than everyone else. Why can't we all just finally get equal rights like the constitution states? Where the hell is this country going?

I hope this has helped over the years, but I think, like Ted Kennedy, it has outlived whatever usefullness it had. What good is a helping hand if in the end it only serves to limit the individual by enabling them to settle for less from themselves? People of all races have the potential to excel and everyone should have the right to compete on equal ground. Everyone.

I could write a terribly long spiel on how bad affirmative action is but I won't.It wears me down hearing this same old stupid argument and even though Bush seems to be trying to take a bite out of it,he is afraid of this hot potato subject and I doubt anyone will ever have the balls to do the right thing and make everyone equal in this country and do away with affirmative action.

Affirmative action is a legal form of racism directed to whites. All those in which support it are afraid of legitimate competition. These people are usually hardcore liberals, almost to the extent of communism. They hate capitalism, and promote heavy government spending on social programs.

Affirmative Action was birth out of racial bigotry. Preferential treatment is never a good thing, but preferential treatment is what implemented AA in the first place. There were so many blacks, latinos,asians, women, homosexuals and other ethnic groups who had exceptional school and work records but they were denied jobs or admitance because of the color of their skin, their gender and sexual orientation. Until people stop being so narrow-minded and can except others for their merits, Affirmative Action will be neccessary.

My rating of this is based on importance of the matter, not my feelings of it. I'm an American-born Asian female myself, and I'm really !@#$ing tired of people thinking that things were "handed to me" based on a "quota". I've got a 3.6 GPA and 1260 on my SAT's, I EARNED my way up to college and my degree. I got the jobs that I've been in because I was QUALIFIED. All Affirmative Action tells people is that "minorities aren't qualified enough, not smart enough, to get the position on their own." I'm tired of the argument that minorities are subjected to poorer school systems and low standards in the classroom--wouldn't that make it EASIER to get straight A's if your class is that dumbed down?? They only way to really level the playing field here, I think, would be to remove any possible identifier of race and gender from the applications (including the name). I'm sorry if I'm hostile over this matter, but affirmative action makes me and other minorities targets of discrimination, and encourages discrimination against majorities. Affirmative Action does not work, and is only creating more hostility. (This is an addition to my original comment: A few recent Reader's Digest articles brought to light a very interesting point: Asians are also discriminated against in "Affirmative" Action; where other minorities are given extra "points" because of their race, Asians are excluded from that. Interesting--so, I get screwed because people think that I am "benefitting" from a program which actually discriminates against me. If poor school standards truly ARE to blame for the inequalities which lead to the "need" for Affirmative Action, then why don't we FIX the real problem: fix our public schools! Fix the problem at the SOURCE rather than trying to "mend" things later? More discrimination does not fix past injustices!)

An issue of chief importance in America. The only way that the centuries of institutionalized discrimination endured by minorities can be avenged. What most opponents don't take into consideration is that minorities receive an overwhelmingly lower quality education than whites (on the average). If they aren't given certain benefits when it comes to employment, there will be no way for minorities AS A WHOLE to achieve full equality. Sure, some privleged individuals make it, but unfortunately most cannot ascend to a higher economic status because they started off early in life with an education of poorer quality. Once the affirmative action programs have been instituted and a fair economic elitist balance has been reached in America, there will be no need for these programs anymore. Today's affirmative action wouldn't be necessary if whites hadn't been given jobs based on race for hundreds of years and everyone really had an equal opportunity. That was the real crime.

The new focus on Affirmative Action in this coming century will not be on race, but Citizenship Status (issue of US-born vs non-US born) in employment hiring decisions. High foreign-born populations dominate states like California, Texas, New York and Florida, where non-US born, non-white groups, many not yet official citizens of the United States, hold close to outright majorities in total population/Census counts. In many of these jurisdictions, foreign-born are often preferred to be hired by employers than those native to America, due to a willingness by foreigners to do work for less wages and lessened educational requirements. Some employers obviously value unenlightened workers not questioning the motives of an unscrupulous employer. Today, many Hispanics born in the US are facing job discrimination due to the proliferation of foriegn-born Hispanics. Employers hire Hispanics not born in the US to meet a legal need to diversify a workplace by race, without being forced to hire better qualified and educated minorities who started life within the 50 states and US territories. I see a time when Congress and the Supreme Court will have to decide this issue, since the US is the only industrialized country that fails to provide job security to those born within a country (most jobs, espcially private sector ones, allow no preference for US born citizens, except in some public service jobs as required by state or federal law). Unlike the US, other countries often make sure their citizens get the first crack at a job prospect before considering non-citizens for that same job prospect.

This is killing morale at offices, businesses, and some academic forums. It is an insult to think that a gov't program should be in place to help a group of people. . .this insinuates an inferiority complex. This program had its time and place but it is over.

I don't see why it's needed anymore. Everyone deserves an equal chance. No group should be given preferences over others.