Affirmative Dissent
posted in General |AFFIRMATIVE DISSENT
I have never been a great fan of affirmative action, which is really a code word to disguise preferential treatment and quotas. Equal opportunity is one thing, and most folks don't argue against that. But proponents of diversity want no parts of equal opportunity – they want guaranteed results. So-o-o, they find ways to tilt the playing field.
Over the past 10 years or so, the courts have been increasingly unsympathetic to racial, ethnic, or gender preferences since the US Constitution simply doesn't privide for that kind of disparate treatment. But the social architects keep trying to twist the Constitution around to supporting their views. Granted, slavery was despicable — and the Civil War wasn't just a fraternal spat. But the face of our society has changed dramatically since the Civit Rights Act was passed almost 40 year ago. If EVER there was a justification for affirmative action those days are gone. Now, what had been a policy matter has been transformed into a legally supported demand for preferential treatment. The supporters casually ignore the fact that for each person receiving preferential treatment, another is denied fair treatment.
This spring the US Supreme Court will rule on a case that is right on point. In determining admission to the Univ of Michigan Law School, blacks, hispanics and indians are given an extra 20 points in a scoring system based on points. The justification offered by the Michigan Law School is that achieving diversity is desireable and the bonus points are warranted. They don't deny that they have discriminated against the better qualified applicants. Translation – more qualified applicants are rejected so that less qualified “diversity” candidates may be accepted. Two outstandingly qualified women have contested their denial by the Law School. And the Law School doesn't deny their superior qualifications. Currently, there are conflicting affirmative action decisions in the Circuit Courts, so the Supremes can't duck this one. Do they bow to political and social pressure, or do they rule on the Constitution?
I have no use for this diversity hogwash. In an academic environment we should encourage excellence and achievement. Affirmative action is an effort to legitimatize a special form of discrimination. It deserves to be dumped into a trash can, and I hope the Supremes pull the plug this June.