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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]It's not racist to acknowledge that the government has hiring preferences for minorities. My husband, who has been a senior government employee, has been told multiple times that positions are reserved for women and minorities. Luckily, he is in the private sector and thriving well. When the government people contact him asking for suggestions for possible appointees, though, they now almost always specify they are seeking women and minorities. I am all for diversity, but this has really gone too far.[/quote]

And you and the OP KNOW that this is why the OP had not been hired?  Do you or the OP know that a minority ultimately got the job that she sought?  See...I have learned in my career that many people just do not want to accept the fact that they are not qualified or that they interviewed poorly.  So they speculate and come up with external factors as to why they did not get the job.  Believe it or not, the government job market is VERY competitive for positions that require a college degree. For all we know, OP applied for a position with 1000 applicants. [/quote]

I am the poster you are quoting. No, I do not know her, nor do I know why she has not been hired. As a more general matter, though, there is, at least at the higher levels, a clear preference to hire people who are either minorities or women. In some areas the priority is to hire women, in some areas to hire certain categories of minorities, and in some areas simply not to hire additional Caucasian men. I am quite familiar with senior personnel in several agencies who are regularly asked for potential candidates for appointment. It is not a state secret that what this administration is seeking is a group of minorities and women. In my view, that has both positive and negative policy and practical consequences, but overall I think it has gone too far.  To deny that this preferential treatment of women and minorities exists, though, would be wholly disingenuous.[/quote]

I won't deny it so long as you don't deny that we got here because of longstanding preferential treatment of White men. [/quote]

Well, you can't deny what I said because it is factually true.  But I don't actually think that inequalities in one direction need to be addressed by over-correcting in granting preferences.  So, while I understand thoughtful people may have different views. I do not believe that past discrimination required the current, in my view ridiculous, set of hiring priorities.  We are not a nation divided I to teams by gender and race such that unfair discrimination against one group in the past justifies unfair discrimination against another "team" today.  All that does is continue the cycle of our natio. Losing out on top talent, of whatever race or gender, due to discrimination.  So, yes, I do deny what you claim.[/quote]

Well if you only see it one way, I am not sure I have anything to add. Providing opportunities for those who in recent history would not have gotten those opportunities is not ridiculous.  Has it been a perfect execution? No, and many minorities would share that view because of the stigma attached with Affirmative Action et al.  It is hard to argue with the underlying philosophy though, IMO.  Anyways, many of the top companies and agencies see that there are compelling business reasons to have a diverse workforce.  Hopefully, by the time our kids are grown, it will primarily be a market driven concept. [/quote]

Well, it's not that I can only see things one way, I just disagree on degree.  You talk about "those" who have discriminated against, when I think the more accurate description is "those who are of the same race or gender as people who had been discriminated against." Again, I simply think its time we put the groupings in the background and focus on engaging the best talent.  Really, people being asked to refer candidates but being told only to refer women and minorities, and for senior positions.  Ridiculous.[/quote]
You know why? Because so many people only see talent and qualifications in the people who look like them and have been in place FOR.EV.ER.
What don't you get about that? Some people have to be told to cast a wider net -- otherwise the only people they would even interview look like Jimbo Fisher from the country club. I guess you don't understand how discrimination works. [/quote]

Not a "wider" net, a net that only includes a narrower portion of the potential pool. Excluding white men.  And to assume that my DH and his closest friends and former government colleagues, over half of whom are either female or minorities, are somehow unable to identify non-white-male talent is way off the mark.  You seem to be a shining example of prejudice wrapped in misinformation.  Whatever people may think of it, this administration has a clear preference if hiring women and minorities.  I think it has gone too far.  Others may disagree.

FWIW, my family is from a region of the world where those of our nationality and ethnicity have been discriminated against to a remarkable extent.  Not enslaved , but granted only minimal rights, with little access to land ownership, the justice system, or educational opportunities. Clearly not the same as slavery, but I would say the discrimination was at least assumed as that against women in the US.  All of my ancestors were servants or farm hands.  Certainly no Americanized country club life.  It would never occur to me that anyone owed me anything because someone else discriminated against my ancestors.  People have different views on this, but don't go assuming I'm some wealthy, entitled fat cat just because I disagree with you.  [/quote]

Another PP.  Could it be that they are asking for non-White candidates because they have already identified the White candidates they want to interview?  White candidates are a dime a dozen and not hard to find.  But if what PP said is correct and I think it is  - they are casting a wider net.  [/quote]

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