Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/17/84; site mhuxr.UUCP
Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!cmcl2!seismo!harvard!talcott!panda!genrad!decvax!bellcore!allegra!ulysses!mhuxr!mfs
From: mfs@mhuxr.UUCP (SIMON)
Newsgroups: net.politics
Subject: Re: Affirmative action
Message-ID: <257@mhuxr.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 22-Feb-85 09:20:08 EST
Article-I.D.: mhuxr.257
Posted: Fri Feb 22 09:20:08 1985
Date-Received: Sun, 24-Feb-85 03:10:15 EST
References: <343@gargoyle.UChicago.UUCP> <360@sftri.UUCP>
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories, Murray Hill
Lines: 38

> Richard Carnes writes:
> > Gordon Banks argues that AA is unjust because it mandates
> > differential treatment of people on the basis of their race or sex.
> > Is it not a valid
> > goal to try to find ways to better the lot of previously excluded,
> > oppressed or enslaved groups?  
> 
> Why do you think it is OK to discriminate against one particular
> group but not against another?  You seem to be saying two wrongs
> make a right, and I don't buy it.  If it's wrong to discriminate
> against any particular group on the basis of race, it's wrong to
> discriminate against any group.  Yes, it is a valid goal to try to
> better the lot of previously excluded, oppressed, or enslaved groups,
> but, in my view, the ends do not justify the means in this case.
> 
The objection is valid. However, none of the foes of affirmative action
has proposed anything concrete to undo the pervasive effects of
discrimination in american society. SImply passing laws that state
"henceforth there will be no discrimination" is good and necessary.
But if we do nothing else it will take an approximately equal number
of centuries to undo that discrimination. I argue that the pump MUST
be primed. Affirmative action is an attempt to prime that pump.
It is a valid tool in times of economic expansion and low unemployment,
when an economy is looking for as many people to be in the labor market
as possible.

Affirmative action HAS had enormous positive effects. Look around you.
How many minorities and women are working in your company and making
positive contributions? These blankets statements ("Affirmative action
means that the company hires those with inferior qualifications
on the basis of sex or race") are silly. Obviously some qualified
minorities and women were found, from ELizabeth Dole and Jeane
Kirkpatrick down to Jane Doe down the hall from my office. ANd if
you don't think these people are the result of affirmative action,
ask yourself: would these people have been where they are 20-30
years ago?

Marcel Simon