should law enforcement agencies use affirmative action programs to increase the number or minority officers?
535690
Personally, I think that the people most qualified for the job should get the job.  Although I am a minority myself, I wouldn't want the white guy who is qualified to protect my life to not get the job because a black lady got it who isn't as qualified.
1022246
Affirmative Action was originally set up to help minorities get into college, get jobs, etc.
786448
... well... if a state passed slavery, would you support it... \n\nnow, this isn't quite the same... granted, but I don't think it's right, just because the majority wants it either... \n\nthe simple fact is... minorities get paid less and hired less when there is no affirmative action in place... affirmative action tries to fix the problem... \n\nis just ignoring the fact that they get paid less a better way to go?
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
161506
Yes.\n\n  There is a 1981 Pennsylvania law banning the practice of "directly or indirectly" suggesting that an individual police officer should issue "a certain number of traffic citations." \n\n  However, there has been an ongoing investigation in Pennsylvania for the past few years about the Pennsylvania State Police issuing quotas for their troopers to meet.  The only reason they are getting away with it is that they are calling them "averages" and "standards" to hide the fact that it is a quota.
170768
Your 100% right Stacey they should make a law that says every 4 years only minorities can run for president.Just like equal opportunity jobs.
1010534
Affirmative action is not here to "pay back" previous discrimination but to prevent current discrimination.  Whether it exists or not in large amounts (there will always be at least one person in America who is racist and in a position of power) is somewhat difficult to determine to say the least.\n\nSome would argue that racists whites established themselves in positions of power early in this country's history and do everything they can to make sure racist whites stay in power, so even now they are at the top and affirmative action is there only to ensure a more equal chance for minorities.  Others argue the point of affirmative action was to equalize it out and now that it has been in place for many years it has done its job and it is now time to quit before it equalizes "too much."  \n\nI'm not sure myself if it is right (I'm Hispanic), especially since I don't like it being attributed to affirmative action when I get a decent job.  But I have seen it happen already too many times that I did lose a job because somebody felt I should go back to Mexico (I was born in the United States and I'm around 6th generation in from my Mexican ancestry, 3 generations in from my European ancestry, and native from my Native American ancestry).  I think it is helpful and needed but I do understand why whites (especially the males) would feel it unfair.  Sometimes they lose the job even when more qualified because of it.
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.
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.
828701
Ugh.No I dont.Im a liberal, but on this thing I really really agree with you. \n Affirmative action only succeeds in further spreading the idea that racism is alive and well in this country by rewarding someone simply because of the color of their skin.
34192
Affirmative Action is an imperfect solution to a real problem.  There is clear discrimination in the work force and education system.  America needs a mechanism in place to combat these problems.  While not perfect, I believe that Affirmative Action is an acceptable alternative to having nothing. \n\nI am white, and I do not believe that AA is reverse discrimination.  Lets face it, it sucks to be born black.  Look at the statistics, the average white person is born into a much better socio-economic position than the average African-American. \nI am not saying that it sucks to be black, but the simple truth is that a white baby has a much better chance of socio-economic success than an African-American.\n\nAffirmative Action is needed to create an even playing field. \n\nI currently attend a top 20 law school, it is obvious that the rich white kids have it much better than the average minorities.  I have no compassion for rich kids who never struggled, we should award those who have more to overcome, and affirmative action is the only option available.
1173605
There is no doubt that negros and women are not treated equally in the US labor force. But forcing a company to hire a set amount of each is crazy. The job should go to the person who is most qualified.
1101314
Affirmative Action is a ridiculous idea.  How does it make any sense to say "we are righting the wrongs, removing race from being a factor, and ensuring that a man is judged on merit rather than skin color" and then say, "here's the program-- if you're black, you definately need that boost to even attempt to be on an even plane with whites."\n\nIt's racist against blacks and whites-- it eliminates the idea that blacks can be intelligent without a booster seat, and it discriminates against whites who are better qualified.
8235
I disagree. Though it has had positive results, if our target is true equality then affirmative action wont get us there. Equality is not going to be found in concentrating so hard on who is black, who is white, and who is in between. True equality is going to be found when we finally learn not to care about race. Equality will come when people finally decide that race doesn't matter. With affirmative action race DOES matter. Race is a big deal. Race is everything. That isn't equality.
766490
Better than the racial minorities treat the majority.
488210
You expect too much out of them.\nWe have to stop the racism ourselves. \n\nHowever, police departments should have specific rules against racial profiling.\n\nIt would be good for neighborhoods sensitive to these issues that are homogenous, racially, to have police of the same race to avoid the appearance and lesson the posibility of the appearance of racism.\n\nPeace!!
794402
I think you misunderstand affirmative action.  People are not hired or admitted to college solely on the basis of their race or ethnic background.  They still have to be qualified for the position, or have the grades to qualify for admission.  But if there are two qualified applicants, and one of them is under-represented in the work force or in the educational setting, then the "minority" candidate is to receive preference.\n\nYour attitude demonstrates how far we have to go in this country to eliminate racism and prejudice, because you assume that a person of color who holds a prestigious position got there not because they were intelligent or worked hard, but because they somehow sneaked in.  How insulting.