There is another aspect of affirmative action, which is not mentioned in 13:23's article, namely outreach. I recall when I was involved in hiring. There was no quota in hiring, but we were required to show that we were advertising in places where minorities were likely to see the ads.

Had we hired any candidate who appeared significantly less qualified, I think there would have been questions, whether white or minority. But among roughly comparable candidates, I think our decisions were generally accepted.

However, although I don't recall the situation occurring, I had a pretty strong impression that a pattern of choosing whites over comparable minorities would have been problematic.

In other words, the system was (in my opinion) a reasonable effort to overcome prejudices that were either built into the preexisting hiring framework or were subconscious among the hirers. Neither of these two is likely to be cured by being "color-blind".

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:1. Societies need balance. You cannot have too much disparity between the haves and the have-nots, but you also cannot have too much of a wealth transfer either, from the productive classes to the unproductive classes. We are in that tug of war now.

2. Non-racists conservatives (like I think I am) sincerely try to be color blind. Judge based on ability, and try to give everyone a somewhat equal shot.

3. Liberals, in my/our view, see EVERYTHING through a raced-base prism. It is against our country's best interests to constantly divide us this way. Plus it is just silly.

1. So only the top 10% of the country is productive? (In the last 10 years, that's the only set whose lot has improved). Interesting.

2. Judge based on criteria set by the majority, you mean. And don't make allowances for differences in education or background (i.e., affirmative action), because that's not merit-based, right?

3. That's a weird viewpoint for someone who's "colorblind" to have. I don't see either party as looking at things solely by race.

P.S. I'm white, originally registered GOP but switched since I'm not a corporation or CEO (and therefore they didn't represent my interests). I also believe passionately in equal opportunities for all, and that's another thing republicans spend a lot of time rallying against.

affirmative action is horrible. makes no sense, is not fair, causes resentment and is not needed regardless. when picking someone to fly the space shuttle, no, you do not make allowances for education or background - you want the person (black, white, red, green) who can land the ship.

Spoken like someone who's likely never been discriminated against.

http://www.understandingprejudice.org/readroom/articles/affirm.htm

Republican Legislator: Slavery Was A “Blessing” For Black People

http://newsone.com/2054824/republican-legislator-slavery/

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:1. Societies need balance. You cannot have too much disparity between the haves and the have-nots, but you also cannot have too much of a wealth transfer either, from the productive classes to the unproductive classes. We are in that tug of war now.

2. Non-racists conservatives (like I think I am) sincerely try to be color blind. Judge based on ability, and try to give everyone a somewhat equal shot.

3. Liberals, in my/our view, see EVERYTHING through a raced-base prism. It is against our country's best interests to constantly divide us this way. Plus it is just silly.

1. So only the top 10% of the country is productive? (In the last 10 years, that's the only set whose lot has improved). Interesting.

2. Judge based on criteria set by the majority, you mean. And don't make allowances for differences in education or background (i.e., affirmative action), because that's not merit-based, right?

3. That's a weird viewpoint for someone who's "colorblind" to have. I don't see either party as looking at things solely by race.

P.S. I'm white, originally registered GOP but switched since I'm not a corporation or CEO (and therefore they didn't represent my interests). I also believe passionately in equal opportunities for all, and that's another thing republicans spend a lot of time rallying against.

affirmative action is horrible. makes no sense, is not fair, causes resentment and is not needed regardless. when picking someone to fly the space shuttle, no, you do not make allowances for education or background - you want the person (black, white, red, green) who can land the ship.

because R's suck evangelical dick.

If they didn't, they would definitely get a lot more Asians on board.

Anonymous wrote:1. Societies need balance. You cannot have too much disparity between the haves and the have-nots, but you also cannot have too much of a wealth transfer either, from the productive classes to the unproductive classes. We are in that tug of war now.

2. Non-racists conservatives (like I think I am) sincerely try to be color blind. Judge based on ability, and try to give everyone a somewhat equal shot.

3. Liberals, in my/our view, see EVERYTHING through a raced-base prism. It is against our country's best interests to constantly divide us this way. Plus it is just silly.

1. So only the top 10% of the country is productive? (In the last 10 years, that's the only set whose lot has improved). Interesting.

2. Judge based on criteria set by the majority, you mean. And don't make allowances for differences in education or background (i.e., affirmative action), because that's not merit-based, right?

3. That's a weird viewpoint for someone who's "colorblind" to have. I don't see either party as looking at things solely by race.

P.S. I'm white, originally registered GOP but switched since I'm not a corporation or CEO (and therefore they didn't represent my interests). I also believe passionately in equal opportunities for all, and that's another thing republicans spend a lot of time rallying against.

Anonymous wrote:Hispanics will flip to the GOP because they are Caucasian ....very Christian...anti gay marriage.... Anti abortion...work hard and will become independent. At that point they will resent taxes. It's just a matter of time.

Gosh, what could possibly be the flaw in that logic? Oh yeah, your party hates hispanic people.

Anonymous wrote:I don't think we do. We just don't pander to minority groups to get their votes. We treat them as equals rather than votes to be bought.

Yeah right, you really make us feel equal.

Anonymous wrote:Republicans are scared of anything that is different. They are uncomfortable with new situation, people who are not exactly like themselves, and anyone who thinks differently themselves. There is a conservative political correct way of seeing the world, note I did not say thinking.

sorry, i just have to disagree with this. many of the republicans I know are, as a previous poster pointed out, the most color blind people I know. they think everyone has potential and want to help people who haven't had the same opportunities we have. but they don't pander and they don't tell minorities that everyone else hates them.

Hispanics will flip to the GOP because they are Caucasian ....very Christian...anti gay marriage.... Anti abortion...work hard and will become independent. At that point they will resent taxes. It's just a matter of time.

Maybe, except your part pay is using all that time to completely alienate them.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

We treat them as equals rather than votes to be bought.

+10000

You can treat someone as equal and still appreciate cultural differences. Not something that the Repubs get.

I often vote for Republicans and can assure you I treat other people as equals and appreciate cultural differences. In the education world in which I spend my days, we don't work in a "bubble" at all. We're not just giving lip service that we care about others; we live it daily.

Hispanics will flip to the GOP because they are Caucasian ....very Christian...anti gay marriage.... Anti abortion...work hard and will become independent. At that point they will resent taxes. It's just a matter of time.