Affirmative Action.

[nickshepDEM]

Just another one of my polls.

Oh yeah, a short explanation 'why' would be nice too.

[waiting for hope]

1. It sad really

that we still live in a society where in certain sectors, race and social standing plays a part in acceptance - wouldn't it be nice if we lived in a society where Affirmative Action was not needed? Oh, to live in the fantasy world of Star Trek....

[CanOfWhoopAss]

2. What does affirmative action really affect outside of college admissions?

Many businesses create a "subsidiary" that is owned by their wives or mothers which then qualifies it as a minority business. It's really not a new or separate entity anywhere but on paper.

Then of course what is the good ole boy system? It is a form of affirmative action isn't it? You are gaining an advantage due to race or socio-economics then as well.

[loyalsister]

3. Another kind should be added

There should be affirmative action for people with disabilities.
The job markets have been too unfriendly to us for far too long. We should be welcomed into them somehow if they are going to cut Medicaid.

[FrenchieCat]

4. Affirmative Action is still required in this country......

because if your name is Kiesha Washington, as opposed to Dick Allen, your resume will end up in the circulatory bin.

Because if your name is Jamal Brown as opposed to Julie Nelson, the apartment has already been rented.

Because if your skin is dark, no matter how much money you may have, the taxi will pass you by.

Because if you live on the South side instead of the north side, your property is automatically appraised for less, but your loan interest and your homeowner insurance rates is higher.

Because when Leroy Smith walks into a store, he may not be asked if he can be helped, but he may be followed closely.

Because if you live in a depressed "urban" area, your public school is more likely to be subpar, and more likely to receive less funding. Of course, the school less than two miles away, where the other folks live is likely to make your school look like Apartheid is alive and well in the U.S.

Until young Black men are not incarcerated at a higher number, with more lengthy sentences for the same crimes committed by young White men, we cannot claim to have reached a time where the playing field can be considered "level".

The problem with France and what is happening there right now is largely due because France, in an attempt to be "color" blind, has not tracked the race of its citizens. Because of this, private industries are able to discriminate at will, as there are no statistics to point to any evidence that discrimination is going on, therefore, no laws exists that addresses the issue of private industry racist hiring practices.....although it is clear via the naked eye that it is going on with a fury.


Because, until young Black men are not incarcerated at a higher number, with more lengthy sentences for the same crimes committed by young White men, justice in America is still lobsided

[Yupster]

6. Speaking of taxis

We just had a horrible murder in our city.

A lady stabbed a cabbie five times with a kitchen knife.

He managed to get himself out of the car, but he got tangled in his seatbelt and she drove away dragging him a mile.

The paper today said she told the police that he was screaming the whole time she was driving and was still alive when she abandoned the car, though he was naked and his right leg was almost detached at the hip. She had side-swiped a pickup in an unsuccessful attempt to tear the man loose.

The police followed the blood trail and he was dead when they found him.

She was on bond awaiting trial for choking a pregnant woman until she lost consciousness when she allegedly committed the murder which it looks like she's admitting.

Here's a link

http://www.mywesttexas.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=15590832&BRD=2288&PAG=461&dept_id=475626&rfi=6

Just a horrible crime.

[Totally Committed]

5. Until this is no longer a country that is Racist and Classist,

I suppport both forms of affirmative action. I look at it as leveling the playing field for everybody.

TC

[1932]

7. I think a lot of people with valuable contributions to make to society are

prevented from doing so because of power imbalances that relate to race and gender and class, and each have pecularities which doesn't make one an easy proxy for the other.

So if you want those diamonds in the rough to be able to see their potential realized (which brings value to all of society and not just to the individuals) you need affirmative action based on race, gender and class and disability.

[New Earth]

8. now that is one of the issues i am not your typical liberal on

i think it actually stumps the evolution of the human race, besides the fact it is unfair. i believe in some kinds of social aid for those 'less fortunate', minorities, etc., but this just never sat well with me.

[Yupster]

12. Also on human evolution,

the most educated, most successful people are having the fewest kids. That can't be swell for the future of the race either.

[Celeborn Skywalker]

21. You mean the richest

Look at every society and you'll see the poor have more kids than the rich. I know you didn't mean to but your post sounds a bit classist.

[nickshepDEM]

25. edited

[liberaliraqvet26]

9. this is one issue I struggle with sometimes...

im still on the fence

[nickshepDEM]

10. Socioeconomic seems 'better' to me.

[FrenchieCat]

11. I disagree.....

even the rich black folks can't get a taxi.

And in addition, if you clean a White person up, the problem is gone in terms of assimilating....not so with Black folks.

[nickshepDEM]

18. I guess you have a point, BUT

Id say a poor white kid from rural West Virginia has just as much trouble making something of himself (if not more) than a poor black kid from NYC.

[Tomee450]

20. I'll bet that

white kid from rural America would never wish to change place with even a rich black person. How you arrived at your conclusion is beyond me. Study after study has shown the rampant discrimination practiced against black people. Individuals with equal education and experience are sent for a job. Who is more likely to get it, the white person. Two couples, one white and the other black, apply for an apartment. Most often, it is the white person who will get the apartment while the black couple is told it is not available. A white kid from rural America still benefits in many ways from his whiteness.

[nickshepDEM]

26. Guess you've never heard of a place called Appalachia...

By the way, Im talking about 'making it' in general... Surviving the poor conditions they were born into, getting through school, and finding a job that provides them with the necessities to survive. I believe poor people in urban areas have easier access to 'opportunities'. Again see: Appalachia.

[dogman]

13. Because we have a lot to catch up on.

Until statistics show balance and equal opportunity is fully realized, it is the only solution. If left to the status quo, we will not achieve a fair society.

[bemildred]

14. I support free money for anybody.

To the extent it provides food, housing, medical care, education, and and a modest sense of security.

[sandnsea]

15. We do both

So there really shouldn't be an issue except to continue to support what we already do. We just need to provide the funds so we can do more of it, or at least at the level we did 20 years ago.

[BlueIris]

16. Support both. My reason is basically--it helps the economy.

Everyone does better when everyone does better.

[Orangepeel]

17. I support both. It's good for society as a whole

In addition to fairness issues and making up for inequities caused by old wrongs, affirmative action is good for society. Diversity in Universities, government aided businesses, places of employment, etc. is good for society. Having roll models in prominent positions is good for society.

[RazzleDazzle]

19. What -- women are chopped liver or something?

And I agree that a short explanation of why would be nice. Why all the damn polls?

Here's a link to a google search on Affirmative Action in Employment.

http://www.google.com/search?q=Affirmative+Action+in+Employment&sourceid=mozilla-search&start=0&start=0&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official


In case anyone is interested enough to read up on it.

And if you're going to do the socio-economic boost, don't call it affirmative action. Socio-economic criteria would have the effect of completely erasing race and gender issues (that is: racism and sexism, for those who can't figure that out), and that is precisely what the rightwing wants, and why they lobby for socio-economic factors.

Plus, that means means-testing, which always gets into snobbery and classism. One reason Social Security is the success it is and has been is that there's no means-testing. It goes to everyone. Now, it could be argued it oughtn't go to the very wealthy, and I would agree, but the flipside is that there's no stigma attached to receiving or living on social security. And as soon as there's any means testing, there will be.

[Celeborn Skywalker]

22. I don't think the right wing

wants A.A. based on economic factors either. They are just as classist as they are racist and sexist.

[xchrom]

23. indeed -- on this issue -- you cannot make

them happy.

they will drag out those opposed to ''entitlement'' spending to spear head the new attack.

which they do any way -- they would simply ramp it up.

[spooky3]

27. The right is perfectly comfortable with AA--to enable * and his ilk

to get into universities, business positions, etc., that a pure meritocracy would never permit.

They love "legacies" and "The Golden Rule"--"he (and it usually is a 'he') who has the gold makes the rules." They hate laws that force them to be rational in advertising widely, looking at the job-related qualifications of all candidates, etc., which is what a meritocracy would require.

[freestyle]

24. I support both, but decent public schools are the main fight.

By the time you get to college admissions, or employment, or government and corporate contracting, you are dealing with people who have already achieved some level of success. Lowering barriers to entry at that point is still critical, but leaves out people who never get there. Affirmative action needs to be coupled with full support for programs like WIC, Headstart, school breakfast and lunches, public education,and tutoring that lay the foundation for success.