Righting Wrongs; Wrong?

Greetings Earthlings!

It's been quite a while since the last edition of The Cubicle Chronicles. The reason for this delay in publication is mainly due to the unusual amount of work I've had to deal with at work; I know, it's like I have an actual job or something! While the increased volume of work is a positive note (I've got a couple cool projects going on & may finally get an upward market-based salary adjustment), my neglect of The Cubicle Chronicles has left me disappointed. Anyway, today I'd like to address a topic that is usually misunderstood, as well as either embraced or hated by many; Affirmative Action. Some good info: (http://www.infoplease.com/spot/affirmative1.html)

The Financial Success of the USA
The USA's infrastructure and economic success is based upon utilizing the lives of minorities and immigrants to create high output gains with minimal input costs; meaning, we used a lot of people as tools and equipment based on their race to become a very rich nation. How do you think the USA became such a powerhouse of manufacturing in such a short period of time? "Yes, " we are where we are today to a great extent because of slavery and the use of immigrants in low-paying and abusive labor conditions. Aren't we the ones who are the first to go to war with countries who do what we did to get rich? Yes. hypocritical? Yes. Do more Americans know who won the last American Idol contest than know American History? Unfortunately, Yes.

Why do we have Affirmative Action?
The abolition of slavery and "sanctioned" discrimination (1863 & 1964) were among the first steps of trying to establish equal rights. Let's think about those dates: 200+ years of slavery, then 100 years of sanctioned discrimination... and we think everyone is on the same playing field 40 some years later? President Johnson didn't think so either, because in 1965 he proposed Affirmative Action.

What is Affirmative Action?
It varies on the agency. Public agencies are required to develop, implement, and track Affirmative Action Plans & Statistics. Private sector is "encouraged" to adopt Equal Employment Opportunities, but is not required unless there's a discrimination lawsuit or court order; basically, in private sector you can do whatever you want until you get caught violating a Civil Rights Law via lawsuit.

Theorectically, the racial breakdown in an organization should be reflective of the racial breakdown of the surrounding population. This is why Affirmative Action is usually found in education and employment. The goal here is NOT to establish a "quota" system, or create an atmosphere of "reverse-discrimination", but to attempt to establish a "level playing field" in light of the hundreds of years of discrimination and inopportunity. For example, if two applicants are EQUALLY QUALIFIED, the minority applicant may be allowed to be weighted to the advantage.

How long does it take to establish "a level playing field?"
Affirmative Action is a temporary fix. It was created to level the playing field and was never meant to be permanent; so the question is, "when will we know that it is no longer needed?"

I leave you with a quote:

"You do not wipe away the scars of centuries by saying: 'now, you are free to go where you want, do as you desire, and choose the leaders you please.' You do not take a man who for years has been hobbled by chains, liberate him, bring him to the starting line of a race, saying, 'you are free to compete with all the others,' and still justly believe you have been completely fair . . . This is the next and more profound stage of the battle for civil rights. We seek not just freedom but opportunity—not just legal equity but human ability—not just equality as a right and a theory, but equality as a fact and as a result."

- Lyndon B. Johnson

The questions for the minds:
Do you feel that Affirmative Action is a good solution to promote equal opportunities to those who have been discriminated against in the past? If so/not, why?

Three hundred plus years of slavery & sanctioned discrimination encompass many generations of socialized prejudice; is it possible to re-socialize people to be less "racially" prejudice?

Which do you feel is more likely to occur:
1) Affirmative Action abolished because an equal playing field has been established

OR

2) Affirmative Action abolished because of claims of "reverse-discrimination" by majority members

All right, click the "comments" link right below to read the responses of others, as well as jot down your own responses. "NO" you don't have to be a member of Blogger to put in your $0.02; Just select "Other" for your identity, type in your name, and post your comments... that's it.... simple as falling down after drinking large quantities of tequila!