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From: robertp@fear.UUCP (Robert Plamondon)
Newsgroups: net.women,net.politics
Subject: Re: Discrimination and AA
Message-ID: <201@fear.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 18-Jun-85 14:36:54 EDT
Article-I.D.: fear.201
Posted: Tue Jun 18 14:36:54 1985
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shor@sphinx.UChicago.UUCP (Melinda Shore) writes:
> []
> > From: robertp@fear.UUCP (Robert Plamondon)
> > But the whole concept of affirmative action is based around
> > fallacies.  One is that passing laws is going to eliminate racism.  
> 

> Very few people are naive enough to believe that passing laws will
> eliminate racism.  Those of us who want to see some protective
> legislation believe that there should be laws prohibiting *acts* of
> racism, sexism, and so on.  You can't legislate what people believe,
> nor should you try.

But clamping down on an employer because the ethnic makeup of his
employees doen't match the "approved" profile has only a vague
relation to actual acts of racism.  AA only effects members of
governmentally-approved minorities, anyway.  An employer with a
violent hatred of redheads, Californians, or bachelors will probably
be able to indulge his bigotries with the government's blessing, as
will women who despise men.

The other level is for victims to sue the people who discriminated
against them.  This isn't as popular as it might be, since you have
to have to be able to actually PROVE discrimination.  It's so much easier
to hang the innocent along with the guilty.
 
>> A final one is the assumption that it's horribly difficult for a woman to
>> get a good job.  

> I've never had trouble getting a job, either (although I know women
> who had good reason to believe that they didn't get jobs on the basis
> of gender -- usually in a corporate environment).  I have, however,
> had the experience of being treated differently on the job, once I
> had it.  I'm fortunate enough to be in a position now where I feel
> I'm being treated fairly indeed by my employer, but I find that users
> seem to prefer talking to male staff.  Discrimination is *real*, Mr.
> Plamondon.  What do you suggest we do about it -- have bigots read
> books explaining why racism/sexism isn't nice?
> 	-- Melinda Shore

I suggest the government do NOTHING about it, since its competence,
sincerity, and immunity to the influence of the people it "regulates"
are all suspect.

I suggest that individuals can have a strong effect without invoking
the government -- refuse to work for bigots.  Refuse to buy from
bigots.  Don't associate with them.

If you can't seem to find any non-bigots, you're probably living in
the wrong place.  Pull up stakes and move to a more enlightened
neigborhood.

Every time a talented individual refuses to work for a bigoted
employer, the employer's business suffers.  Ditto for when customers
stop buying from him.  Most industries are competitive enought that
it doesn't take a whole lot to tip the bozos into oblivion.

Don't wait for the government to come up with a magic wand to make
everything better.  They'll never find one.  All they have is
bureaucracy and taxpayers' money.  People have to live their own
lives as best they can, in a world that will always be screwed up,
one way or another.
-- 
		-- Robert Plamondon
		   {turtlevax, resonex, cae780}!weitek!robertp