How do you feel about Affirmative Action?
444498
Hmm, that's a slightly controversial one, but not nearly as much as say, er, other stuff, so I'll jump in.  Why not?  ^_^\n\nIt may depend slightly on the type of affirmative action you're talking about, but in general I don't feel that it's right.  Especially relating to job acquisition, this is a bad idea.  If a white guy applies for a job and a black (forgive the terms, but "white" and "black" DO take less time to type...although this sentence kinda already made that a useless excuse...but meh) guy applies for the same job, and the white guy is more qualified but they take the black guy because they have to "meet quota" or they "don't want to appear rascist," then that both hurts the economy as well as being a bad moral practice.  Also, if the place those two were applying at WAS just trying to "meet a quota," and later the same white guy tries to apply and another black guy of slightly lesser qualifications also applies (please don't infer that I'm saying that non-white people are less skilled; this is merely an example), they are going to hire the white guy, or at least they should, as he meets the criteria better (not because he's white; I stated that his qualifications are better for the purposes of this example).  Anyway, if the second black guy is technically more skilled than the first black guy, then the end result in this situation is that a white guy and a black guy were hired, but the company could have had a better black guy, and the black guy that had mre qualifications did not get the job he could have had if the company had hired on what I think is a moral basis: ability.  And yes, this is a very far fetched example.  However, hiring on the basis of race is completely unjustified.  I also think hiring on the basis of need is unjustified, which of course immediately leads me to the aforementined race conclusion.  If a person really needs a job, then they need to convince their employer that they can do a darn good job of it.  Thing is, if they really need it, they will try harder to get it AND will work harder at it, which will make them at least in part better cantidates for employment.  I hope that this made sense; I tend to ramble a lot.  Anyway, I'm gonna move on to education.\n\nAs for education, there are a lot of grants out there, and I have seen stats about how African Americans and Hispanics (hmmmm, I chose to type it out NOW, but not in the earlier...oh well) are oftentimes at a disadvantage in paying for school compared to white people.  However, I really feel that we should not be labeling people like that.  there are white people I'm sure that are in just as dire straights as some of the people who apply for "race-only" scholarships.  I think scholarships should be based on merit and need.  If the people of certain races really are more needy, and they are willing to get the grades or reccomendations (and/or write good scholarship application essays), then they should get those scholarships anyway.  As it is, white people who need scholarship money are having to compete with everybody for them, but other races can enter both into "everyone" scholarships as well as scholarships that are only for their race.  Also, having quotas for letting other races into colleges can be hurtful to the people who actually try to get good grades.  I'm not saying that white people always get better grades or anything like that, but if say for one year the applicants at a university are a little more slim on the "non-white" side, and the "white" side is better qualified to get in, the unbiversity may still have to "meet quota," which is not necessarily PUNISHING ability, but is certainly not rewarding it.  If people are not rewarded for their ability and work, then something is wrong.  If minorities want to get into college, then they should (and many do of course) work h
130074
Well ya know all I gotta say is that it seems the Equality we dreamed of has not become reality because people like Jesse Jackson are still whinning about how the Whites need to give the Blacks everything.\n\nBlacks do have more opportunities than they use to.\n\nA Black Teacher I use to have actually had an impact on my opposition to Affirmative Action.\n\nHe commented that he felt that if a White person and Black person applies for a job it is wrong to hire the Black person for being Black (especially if the White person is more qualified).\n\nIt's kinda like if White person and Black person applied for a job it would be wrong to hire the White person for being White (especially if the Black person was more qualified).\n\nIt's kinda like when it comes to Elections I look at abilities of a person over top of race.\n\nFor instance a Black man who is running for Senate in my State has my support but in 2002 I voted for the White person who ran for Attorney General instead of his opponent who was Black.\n\nBut seriously we do need to start thinking of persons as individuals rather than having things based on Race.
1078205
Yes, I believe it is, but not in the way you might think.  Today white people face the institutionalized discrimination of affirmative action.  The country used to be 90% white (in the 50s) but now we're being overrun by millions of third world immigrants -- within 50 years and maybe less white people will be a minority in a country we founded (and yes we did found this country, all of the Founding Fathers were white)  And with the stigma of "racism" we're not allowed to say anything about it because that would be hopelessly racist.  White people are being asked to accept our own dispossession, the balkanization of our country and our future minority status.
784293
I'm a woman, and I'm kind of against affirmative action.  I think that a person should be hired based on merit, not his or her race or gender.  I really wouldn't like working at a job where I was hired mainly because I am a woman, and the company doesn't want to appear sexist.
378254
i believe affirmative action should be used to get a qualified   persons foot in the door. if not encouraged or ordered some companies, businesses etc.. would not provide minorities an opportunity to work. but once a person is hired i believe they should be promoted etc..on their own merit. i do not believe in special exams and test for certain people.. and i feel the employment test should pertain to the job. an intelligent person would want to hire the best man or woman for the job no matter what color..ethnic or religion.also the staff should be representative of the clients...at some point, if a diversed group of people eat at a restuarant than a diverse group should work at the restuarant,   how u understand..that getting in is everyones concern.. staying in or moving up is your own.
111308
I like Thomasfromia's concise answer. Of course it is not an ideal system, but it clearly has helped to overcome centuries of discrimination in educational admissions. All it means is to look at criteria other than test scores and grades in determining admissions, with the goal of a more diversified student body. This allows access to the "pie" to people that otherwise would be shut out. In turn, enlarging this access in the long term decreases economic and social inequities in our society. You might be surprised at how many affirmative action admits, when given the chance, become outstanding, productive citizens.\nSure, I'd rather not have it, but for the sake of our society, I'd rather have it than nothing. Ironically, though, we've always had a different form of affirmative action, one that allowed ill-prepared but wealthy students to get in above those better qualified. The most obvious example is the Ivy League legacy policy that let's in the offspring of the rich. Or how about the policy of "special admitting" athletes who otherwise wouldn't qualify? At least, if you get rid of it, get rid of all such favoritism.\nAs long as all of those who enter the university are required to complete the standards for graduation, I am happy to enlarge the pool of students who are given an opportunity.
339679
affirmative action is reverse discrimination
127961
The way affirmative action is generally done is total crap.  The intent is to give underprivildeged kids a chance, but race is not a valid measure of priveldge.  Why should a rich black kid from a private school be admitted to a college simply because he is black?  Hasn't he had more opportunities than a white kid living on welfare?  College admissions and employers should take applications in the context of the socioeconomic background of the student, not his race.  Race-based affernative action is supposed to be an answer to racisism, but it effectively implies that people of racial minorities are somehow inherently inferior and should be held to lower standards.  Admission and empolyment decisions need to be entirely race-blind and take into account relevent socioeconomic details instead.
994746
I feel great about it! I really don't mind interracial dating. I think its beautiful when people can express their feelings and not bow to the status que placed on us by society. People forget the culture of america and so it seems, there isn't what they would describe a "problem" with this situation, They choose not to address it, well the "problem" is people being color blind, to the specifics of the word, BLIND TO THE COLORS AROUND YOU. They are unwilling to accept them and hence they are not there or you are blind to them. I don't believe in color blindness, its ignorance, it needs to change, be aware of the wonderous variety around you and accept it. I Think its extremly interesting to learn about other people's ways of life. I think its really sad that people of any race can simply 'dis' others becuase they are of any color.
756027
Some Black students may feel it is necessary, but I don't. I didn't attend an historically Black college, and I don't regret it. I looked for the one that provided me with the education I needed to be successful in my field. I wanted the diversity because the world is diverse. I wanted to feel the same competition I would feel in the real world. If the HBC offers the best for your career choice, that should be the school you attend. My decision was educational not racial.
458372
That is a hard question.  In an ideal world there would be no racism, therefore no need for Affirmative Action.  But I don't have to tell you that the world is far from ideal.  By the question I'm assuming you view Affirmative Action as reverse descrimination.\n\nIf you could tell me that nobody is judged by race anymore and back it up I would tell you that I agree and would be for removing Affirmative Action.  Seeing that you cannot do that, there needs to be a check in place to ensure a balance stays in place.  It's called checks and balances.  Just because a check is in place, it doesn't mean that there is always someone trying to get around it, it means that in case someone does try, there is a means to catch it.\n\nAffirmative is a way to prevent preferential treatment of the masses over the minority, not the cause of it.  Flawed logic like yours has erupted in many instances such as the topic of legalizing drugs, it's only a problem because it's illegal.  What they don't consider is the consequences as a result of such an action.  There would no longer be illegal activity, but there would then be an increase of "legal" drug abuse and distribution, not lessening the problem, simply re-labeling it and inadvertently promoting it.\n\nThe same can be applied to Affirmative Action.  If it were to be removed, there would be nothing in place to catch those who would attempt to bypass minority candidates who are qualified and with no way to catch it, or prevent it, it will be free to run rampant again.\n\nDon't fear it, it is a safeguard for those who need protection, are you offended when your bank put up surveillance cameras?  No, it made your bank that much more secure, it wasn't meant to call you a thief.
278922
Same way I feel about thin people on planes. We are all human and all have equal rights, fat, thin, tall and short. Discrimination against others just reflects the type of person you are.
167623
Affirmative Action, started when employers had to look equally at a black person for employment.  Eventually it came to include all "ethnic" backgrounds.\n\nHowever if you found a job posting from a reservation and it said "preference to native ancestry" or something like that, it means that we would rather have a native working with our funds/jobs/services because they understand the issues better and we're tired of having non-natives tell us how to run our own forms of governments.
411012
Just as slavery was accepted, but morally bankrupt when compared to the phrase " all men are created equal", affirmative action is accepted by some, but morally bankrupt.  Equal opportunity for all should be taken at its face value, not perverted to raise one group of people over another.
800868
Why would we want affirmative action in congress.  You should want the best people for the job, we shouldnt stick people of one race or another in a National seat just because there arent enough of them in already.
99393
i think they are pandered to - just because and that affirmative action has little or nothing to do with it- I think that Amaricanisim needs to be put forth as a culture- without regards to race , color or religion.  We need to realize that whatever our country of origin- we all live in this one now and we need to work to make it better-
319380
Affirmative action involves giving preferrential treatment to one group over another.  It isn't really any better than the Jim Crowe laws.\n\nThe irony is that people who believe in affirmative action, tend to do so on the basis of eliminating racial inequalities.  This is contradictory by nature.\n\nUnfortunately, racism and inequity will never be completely eliminated, by affirmative action or any other means.  You simply can not legislate away the opinions of others.\n\nIn the meantime, affirmative action gives fodder to those with racist agendas, and provides little if any benefit.  Not to mention that it necessarily means that qualified, deserving cantidates will miss opprotunities for employment and education based on their race.  Isn't this what we're trying to stop?