Affirmative action does have good intentions, but is it fair? Is it not racist that someone gets a job only because of his ethnicity even though gender and color are totally irrelevant.? Shouldn't whoever is thought to be the hardest worker get the job? What are the pro's and con's of AA?
If you don't know much about AA, you can check out the basics at this site: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Affirmative_action
Thanks! Randy (12:00)
8 comments:
I can see your point, but I'm for affirmative action as of now. Maybe in 50 years or so, when treatment is more equitable among all races, we could phase it out. For now, though, I think AA serves the purpose of helping out groups of people who are less advantaged in our society--and who have been for many, many years. If a person of a minority group gets hired over someone else who could do the job better, then I'd say that for now that's fair as we try to compensate for the way we have treated these minorities in the past.
When all people really do have equal opportunities in this country, then we can get rid of AA.
John Wentworth
That's a tough question! I actually have been affected by something of the sort when I was in basic training in the US Army. I was up for promotion through dedication, hard work, and continually improving my skills-at the end of the 9 weeks in basic I was told by my Drill Sergaent that I would recieve a promotion while in final formation in front of everyone- The entire battallion, commanding Officers and most importantly my parents( who I had told the good news to). When it was time to call my name they called someone elses- They called a minority who received the promotion. I was devastated! Now mind you I was a minority (white girl) in basic training & had reached the top of my class past most of the guys, so why wasn't I chosen(especially when I was told I would be!). Maybe it should be on a case by case determination, but in all actuality if you're qualified for the job more than the next person regardless of color than why should we get punished for your color? Im thinking that by doing this maybe we're trying to make up for a terrible past, yet by allowing others to be discriminated against only hurts our future!
--Amy Marx
Tuesday, April 17, 2007 2:48:00 PM
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I don't think that affirmative action is a good thing because when putting it more toward race, it lowers oppurtunities to have more people try to come and help. Picking from a race is wrong and it is choosing a side. Instead, having someone trying to get a job should be based on how much they know from past jobs or how good of a team player they seem to be.
Katrina Burkhardt
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This is a tough question because there is no perfect solution. Affirmative Actions was meant to make sure more minorities were treated fairly, but then that pushes university admissions, business owners, etc. to admit/hire more minorities and less caucasians. So then the caucasians are given less opportunities. But then again caucasians have had greater opportunities for years so isn't this only fair? In my opinion it's not. I think in the college admissions process, nationality and color should not even be allowed to be on the application - that way everyone is treated the same in the admissions process. That's not so easy in job applications because of the interview process, so I don't have a solution for that. But I do have to agree that Affirmative Action creates the same problem it intended to solve. It probably never will be solved either.
--Nigel Knop.
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I am very glad someone posed this question. Affirmitive Action is one thing that I am very much against. Whtether it's for college or a job, i beleive that the best available candidates should either get the job or get in the school. I don't care if they are black, white, asain, etc. Another example is from a news program i saw on CBS about this topic. The University of Michigan accepts prospective students on a "points system." For example, A high GPA will get you some points, as will being involved in extracurricular activities. The more points, the better chance you have to get into the school. Now in this system, 5 points are awarded for having a high ACT score. But 20 points are givin for just being a minority! I was absolutely shocked when i heard that. Being a minority is more important than having a good ACT score? In my opinion, affirmitive action is one of the stupidest things.
Matt Lindsay
I dont think that someone should get hired just because they are of a different race or nationality. I think that jobs should go to the individual that proves he/she is worthy of that job or position. People need to work for what they want, not just be given it because people feel sorry for them.
Josh Kaufman
i do think that affirmative action does have good intentions but i don't think it's fair.And i do think that it is racist if someone gets a job just because of their ethnicity. i understand why they made this law but it is not fair that someone should get a job because of their skin color the job should go to the hardest working person and if that person is of a differnt ethicity then ok but they shouldn't get it becaeu they are a differnt color.The pros being that everyone is equal which is a good thing. But a con is that some people suld take that law and turn it into a way to get a job that they do not deserve which is unfair to the other people who should have got that job.
Layine Shields
I do not think affirmative action is fair for any race. I have seen a lot of examples where a minority will get something over a regular white guy because whoever gave it to them is scared that they will call them racist. Affirmative action has good intentions, but it puts fear into companies to hire people of different backgrounds when there is someone who is more qualified for that job. I think that AA has gone too far with its original purpose. Some good things about AA is that they do give some minorities the oppertunity to suceed that they might not have had. The bad part about that is that employers look for minorities more than hard working people, because they are scared of having a lawsuit.
cody sullivan
I do not agree with Affirmative action. I that the deciding factor in getting in to a certain college or a specific job should be your qualifications. I think that anyone had the right to go to any college or work in any job that they want. As long as they are qualified and able to make it into the program or do the job then they should be considered as much as everyone else. I don’t think that quotas are necessary for any job or program. It should be the most qualified get the position.
Andrew Halleran
I feel that if there were no affirmative action, then there would be much more problems around society. No matter what, not everybody is going to feel justified. There needs to be and equal amount of races in department to make up for how some people were treated in the past, even if the non minority person is better qualified for the job.
Zach Lutz
I am ANTI Affirmative Action because I feel that the should be a level playing field. Whoever has the best credentials should be accepted first rather than picking on a minority basis. If someone is more qualified than they should get the job. Minority groups should not get the job based on their race. I feel that America needs to move on from the past and start treating everyon equally no matter what race. It's survival of the fittest and there not be any more get out of jail free cards.
Charlie Ramshwa 12:00
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