What does affirmative action remedy? Why is it necessary?  Why does it apply to new immigrants?
339679
affirmative action is reverse discrimination
1022246
Affirmative Action was originally set up to help minorities get into college, get jobs, etc.
161183
It is hard to tell.  While to the most point I agree that race shouldn't be an issue at all, and that Affirmative Action makes it an issue, there are other things to consider...\n\nI agree with one of the things that Affirmative Action tried to accomplish, however.  AA tried to create more opportunities to those who had more obsticals to overcome.  The problem with this is that race does not necessarily equal obsticals.  The other problem is that the job market is not the place to create these opportunities.  Underprivaledged people need the opportunity for education and for a safe place to come home to.  Then they will make their own opportunities in the work place.\n\nOf course, there is another problem with this that no one wants to talk about.  Some races are physically and genetically more inclined certain areas and less so than others.  Whites and Asians are better at math, science, etc.  Blacks are physically bigger and stronger, generally.  \n\nSlavery was absolutely wrong.  It should not suprise us, however, that in history blacks were enslaved by whites and not the other way around.  Blacks are very hard workers, and they can physically withstand much more.  Whites are thinkers, dreamers, strategizers.  \n\nThis is not to say that just because someone is white that they will be good at math and science, and bad at sports, but it is saying that the world's top scientists will probably always be dominated by whites and asians, and the most physically demanding sports will always be dominated by blacks.\n\nWhat does this mean in the social political world?  Well, blacks, in general, will probably never dominate world politics.  Not because they should be excluded, but because politics is probably going to interest less blacks than whites.  \n\nI hope we will see more of a push for better education for the underprivaledged of ALL races.  I hope we will see less toleration for ALL crime, and be able to diminish gangs, etc.\n\nAfter that, I wouldn't worry about if there are more whites in CEO positions or in politics.  It might be that this is not based on suppression, but simply on what people are more likely to persue.  I know many people who do a physical job that are happy, and that wouldn't WANT to be a CEO.  If there is something genetically that makes more people of a certain race desire that than others, I say why fight it?\n\nBottom line:  We should not look at race, but we should look at giving everyone the tools they need to make the life for them they desire.
920888
It is a racist policy that enables someone to benefit off the color of their skin.\n2. It benefits minorities and women.\n3. We have lost fair hiring practices to it.\n4. It effects everyone because one day you could be passed over for a job simply because they have a quota of ethnicity to hire. It basically promotes racism and in equality. It is just another pathetic way to keep racism alive. People are not inferior based on the color of their skin or their sexual gender. Affirmative action reinforces centuries old beliefs that here in America, the white skin of the male is praised by all.
982104
Don't asians benefit from affirmative action? Affirmative action would probably go away in 60 years or so.
921546
Other states are in fact eliminating affirmative action stipulations because affirmative action it and of it's self sets up and environment of preference because of color. I believe business for the most part is color blind, if a person has a good or service that they can provide at a lower cost artficial stimulation because of race is wrong, whether that person is white, black, yellow or purple.
521731
I disagree.  Slavery was over 100 years ago, and US wasn't the only country to do it.  Granted civil rights didn't occur until the '60s, but now in US there is "affirmative action" which is basically reverse discrimination.  Any minority in the US has more opportunities at their fingertips than any white person will ever have.  The minorities merely have to reach out for it, but spend way too much time blaming "whitey" because it's easier.  Anything worth having takes time and hard work.  If a minority applied for the same job as i did, that person would get it over me, even if I had more experience, so I don't feel that the legacy is on Western man(which is another way to say white people)....I should not be held responsible for something ancestors did(especially since I'm Irish/NativeAmerican/German and mine didn't own slaves)  I feel that if you were born in this country you are American...end of story, Celebrate our sameness and quit shouting about our differences.
412160
Well, actually it works hand in hand. People misunderstand what affirmative action is. Some people actually think that you have got to hire minorities whether they are qualified or not. Here is the thing. With affirmative action it just insures that you consider people of all demographics for available positions and that you hire the most qualified person without using color as a hiring tool. Some people speak of a quota. The quota thing is not a huge issue, not really. As long as you can demonstrate that you gave all applicants and opportunity regardless of color, then you are okay. Yet,if you only hire white men under 30 and that is all that you have. If you then say they were the only ones that were qualified, then you are looking for a problem. Because the question comes into play, well you could not find not one woman or minority that was qualified for any of the positions listed. I like affirmative action because it gives me the opportunity to interview and hire the most qualified individuals. If anyone says that companies cannot hire qualified individuals because of some quota, then they are misinformed.
1037893
Looks like you just discovered "The Race Card".  The Race Card is given to every minority in America from birth.  It allows you to divert attention from any problem or issue the very minute it is pulled.  It's used to cover up or excuse almost all social ills involving minorities because addressing those problems in an effictive way may cause "racial tension" etc...
1049718
Affirmative action does nothing but legalize racism and discrimination for every race except whites and serves as punishment for slavery that ended 150 years ago.\n\nWhat is truly sad is that the slaves were prisoners from the inter tribal wars in Africa and were sold into slavery by their own people.\n\nSo in all actuality they have been pissed off for hundreds of years at the end consumer instead of their own people that sold them into slavery in the first place.\n\nBy the way, my ancestors came to this country in 1932 so quit treating me like my family enslaved your family.
143283
As to your first question- those wanting more power or status are more likely to conform. Thosse with power don't conform, they use their power to change the laws/ ways to suit their needs.\n\nFor number two: I'd say based on merit. Affirmative action can cause "reverse discrimination" where you have the possibility of having less-meritorious workers.
662697
I am 100% with you. Do not believe anything fish ball is answering in this question. He doesn't even know the laws much less voice an educated opinion.  \n\nThe problem in the US is racism pure and simple. There is no quota or harassment if you come from France, Germany or England. Why? because people from these countries are usually white and for the most part, have money.  The only reason there are blacks in the US is because they were bought as slaves.  But if any of your forefathers ever thought that they would eventually get freedom and become citizens, heck they wouldn't even have bought them to begin with. The current problem with the illegal immigrants is the color of the Mexicanos. Look at the Canadian frontier.  You just push a button to cross there. Why do we allow so many illegal Canadians here? Because they are white...pure and simple. \n\nIf you marry a US citizen, you can become a citizen too.  However, if you divorce during the first three years of marriage your citizenship can get revoked.  Why? cause they don't want any more dark color skins in the country. Bushy simple.
850865
Affirmative action policies were put into place to assist women and minorities in getting their foot in the workforce and/or colleges around the United States.  It basically shut down the "good ol' boy network" and created a more diverse workforce.  No-one can deny that this country at one time limited women and minorities from getting ahead.  In the work force, if you were a hiring manager you might be asked to meet goals (hire 1 qualified african american applicant along with the 20 white males already working in your department; or as a college admission officer accept 5 qualified females along with the 100 males you gave the thumbs up to)  Of course no one in their right mind wants affirmative action to be a necessary thing (that's simply a no-brainer)... but it was and it still is needed.  However, there is a new generation coming up the line who never experienced the before world and think that affirmative action is a form of discrimination and want it put to rest.  More power to them.  I think we're still another fifty years away from that dream though... only time will tell.
755142
No. A better question is: Should there be "affirmative action" at all?" I say no.
660123
You have to weed out some applicants when there are too many to enroll...what else would you recommend? Race, gender? NOT!
901971
Affirmative action is used in many modern societies (although everyone always thinks it only happens in their own). I don't think it is a good idea, since any form of discrimination is unjust to some degree, but if people decide to adopt this as a temporary measure, I think it has a certain amount of validity. It should have a definite time limit, after which the matter should be consider rectified, and everyone moves on.
843362
Minorities and women in the workplace.\n\nAnyone that thinks Affirmative Action is not necessary and very much needed is living in a fantasy world.\n\nI have personally known over 20 women that have experienced hostility in the workplace in male dominated engineering fields. Some of them were eventually even fired after complaining.\n\nThis is an atrocity in the 21st century and it happens a lot more than anyone knows.\n\nI have an electrical engineering degree and my sister has a mechanical engineering degree. Both of us have experienced this. \n\nMy sister was a mechanical eng. for Nascar and was the only female in the research and development dept. I can not count how many times she called me while on her lunch hour upset and crying from being harassed. Btw, the only black person in that entire building was the receptionist.\n\nAffirmative Action is needed now more than ever because there are still a lot of white males that make it clear they do NOT want females or minorities to 'intrude' on what they call a 'white man's job'.\n\nPoint is that taking away Affirmative Action is saying that you believe ppl will on their own level the playing field... this is just not true as history has repeatedly shown us.