Affirmative Action should be based on Socio-Economic Status and not race or religion

AA is centralized around race instead of the core of the problem: SES (Socioeconomic Status) . AA focuses too much on the race and not the reason why the race is in trouble: their SES. Asians prove this because although they were once very low in SES, they have risen above that and have gained high SES. Now, not only are they not considered disadvantaged, but they are considered a ‘model minority'. People with black sounding names, as I have previously stated, are less likely to get jobs because Black American's generally low SES gives them a poor steryotype. People with low SES typically are less industrious, less responsible, dress and speak poorly, and are not good employees. Because of Black peoples generally low SES they typically are faced with moderate to intense prejudace. Asians were historically faced with the same problem. However, they are now a 'model minority' due to their generally high SES. Asians with asian names, such as Jin Woo or Hei Lun Kim, do not face the same prejudice due to their high SES. AA strikes at a branch of the problem instead of cutting the roots of prejudice, like SAA (Socioeconomic AA) does. If AA is put in place minorities in high positions will still be discriminated against because 'they only got there due to 'reverse racism'. However, SAA cuts down the roots, not the branches, of minority discrimination, which will kill it forever. My opponent sugjests that AA will create diversity by bringing minorities into higher SES in a way SAA could not. AA will in fact bring diversity, but only when color is the first and foremost concern on a society's mind. The 'many talents of people from different cultures, perspectives, abilities and disabilities' my opponent is so concerned about stem not from the color of your skin, but by the enviorment you've grown up in. This has been proven by psycology for decades (http://www-personal.umich.edu...). A black man born into wealth will think similarly ,have similar talents, and have a similar culturewith other black, white, asian, and hispanic men born into similar circumstances. The same is true with a white man born into poverty. He will think similarly, have similar talents, and live in a similar culture with other white, black, asian, and hispanic men born into poverty. Voting reflects this, as voting reflects the way an individual thinks. My opponent has agreed that ' social conditions create an individual's thought - not the color of his skin. He notes that people vote not based on race, but on social environment. That's generally true'. It is generally true because there are always exceptions. SAA will give those in low SES to not only express their talents, ideas, and beleifs, but will be able to put them into action. Due to a lack of power and money, those with low SES rarely are able to do this. However, to be able to do this they will need help in aquiring the nessisary abilities and skills to rise to the top. SAA is able to do this. AA, with all due respect to my opponent, only makes sense in a color oreinted world. My opponent beleives that AA will help needy whites as well as minority races. By definition it cannot. It was created to give disadvantaged minorites the advantage over those ethnic and religous groups generally in less need (http://www.archives.gov...) Because it steryotypes to such an extent it cannot help races that steryotypically do not steryotypically need help. The impoverished white male prodestant cannot, by definition, be helped by AA. However, the wealthy black muslim woman can be helped by it. As my opponent has stated ' even though many white groups (or Asian) may have been discriminated against in the past, there is not evidence - or Pro has not presented evidence - that the discrimination from then affects the way the group is viewed in society today.' The reason why this arguement still exists is because people are still racist. Those in favor of AA are not racist in the sense that they beleive minorities are inferior, but that they are so focused on race and religon they cannot see into the individual. Those in favor of AA, with all respect given, are more concerned about a diversity in color than in diversity in ideals, talents, and beleifs. What's worse is they actually beleive that color gives an individual certain ideals, talents, and beleifs. If that's not racism, I don't know what is. (However, they do have good intentions, so this beleif is not immoral, but simply misguided). SAA is concerned about helping those in need and spreading different ideals. It does not matter whether they be white, black, asian, or hispanic. All that matters is who they are. When people are focused on people and not on steryotypes that is when racism will end. AA does none of these. SAA does all of these. It is more inspiring to see an impoverished white male prodestant rise to the top because of all the obsticles he's had to face. The black muslim woman who is wealthy will not have nearly as many obsticles as the first. What is inspiring is that a society is focused on helping and individual in need because he or she is in need and they do not help based on steryotypes. My opponent has also stated the white race will generally not receive as much attention in SAA. This does not matter. What matters is those in need, whether they be white, asian, hispanic, or black, will receive help and guidence. Race does not matter. What matters is if you need help. People of all races do. Finally, if the American people elected Hillary Clinton based on the fact that she is a woman it would send the message that America is still more concerned with sex than on quality and the individual. It would send the message America is still so focused on sex, and perhaps race and religon, that we cannot see the individual. It says we are still a nation very much focused on steryotypes. AA does not stand as a symbol of racism. It stands as a symbol of the continuation of the focous of race. Finally, I would like to end on a quote by Dr. Martin Luther King jr: 'I have a dream that my children will not be judged based on the color of their skin, but on the content of their character'. I would like to add one more thing to Dr. King's dream: that all those who stand in need, whether they be white, black, hispanic, asian, native american, or any race, will receive help they need. I have that dream, Dr. King had that dream, and I hope all America has that dream.