Affirmative Action

Hello Yarely, 6.0 Why affirmative action is unnecessary 6.1 Response to counter 2.1; when I said diversity is needed, I was reflecting on the view that companies want a diverse workforce (for reasons you gave in point 1). This means companies themselves already want to draw on minorities for their inputs. To make a law requiring those companies to hire minority seems redundant. 6.2 Response to counter 2.2; yes bias are built into tests, but society need some of these biases. To claim that because your family has some social problems doesn't mean tests need lower their standards to accommodate them (and by that definition is bias). After all, tests are made such a way that suites the employer needs rather than for those who are under-qualified. 6.3 women earning lesser is again subject to economics, if their value are lower than male, it because they are compensated by non-salaries benefits such as maternity leaves. 6.4 The disadvantages African American still face (unemployment, infant mortality, lower education) all points towards the ineffectiveness of affirmative action despite being in place for about 47 years. In fact the racial disparities in income, education and home ownership are seen to be increasing (Associated Press, 2006) 6.5 Btw, disabledfeminists.com and understandingprejudice.org aren't neutral sources as their objectives are to promote feministic and racial policies. 7.0 "Affirmative Action does not distract the problem, but provides a temporary fix" 7.1 Response to counter 3.1; to believe that affirmative action is temporary is a misconception. For 47 years that affirmative action has been put in practice, minorities groups are still clamouring for greater efforts. Even when affirmative policies are no longer needed, minority groups would still want it to stay as it gives them an upper hand when competing with others 7.2 response to counter 3.2; I am not advocating that we should "give up" on those who couldn't performed, but rather that admitting them into higher education where they are more likely to drop out (Associated Press, 2005), we could address the root cause by not admitting them thus, forcing them to build up their foundation. 7.3 Response to counter 3.3; by saying that companies discriminate because of prejudice runs counter to your 1st point "'We, and all colleges, are under pressure by industry to increase diversity,'. Therefor to weigh in favour of race other than merit isn't meritocracy. 8.0 "large percentage of White workers will lose out if affirmative action is perpetuated 8.1 Response to counter 4.1; I have never state that a large percentage of whites will lose out. However, even with just a small percentage loses their jobs, is it fair for them? Especially if they are from poorer families too who struggle to get in based on merit only to be side step by richer minority who aren't working as hard. 9.0 Affirmative Action deteriorate society 9.1 Response to counter 5.1; test scores are clearly biased, yes. However, some of these biases and needed by society (see point 6.2). I thus, advocate a base starting point rather than tilting the scales to compensate. 9.2 Your point that because of bias, we need to compensate doesn't address the concern that they are dropping out of collage since affirmative policy only affects intakes. This again shows that the resources used become deadweight as they are left no better than before yet lost the money spend on college education. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. dreamed that one day we would live in a society where individuals would be judged by their character and not the color of their skin. The affirmative action policies of today are both unnecessary and detrimental to minority success. Moreover, they are significant barriers to the establishment of a racially-blind meritocratic society. Justice for all requires the end of affirmative action. Thanks again for this wonderful debate and I would happy to answer any further questions you have regarding my points. Once again, best of luck for the vote. References Associated Press (2006) Census report: Broad racial disparities persist. msnbc.msn.com Associated Press (2005) U.S. college drop-out rate sparks concern. msnbc.msn.com