Affirmative Action

Affirmative Action Affirmative action came about as a result of the civil rights movement as a way help the protected classes of people gain access to jobs and education that they had previously been excluded, for the most part. In many ways this was a necessary initiative because how else could a person gain access into a system dominated by people that weren't willing to share the access that they enjoy? Affirmitive action had many positive results because it has given people hope and brought different perspectives into the business and educational communities that might not have otherwise been included.

However, the idea that the best possible candidate doesn't always get the position doesn't seem fair. In some ways, it's a double standard because when someone is more qualified but is passed over so that an institution can meet a "quota", it means that an individual is being discriminated against to try to remedy discrimination against a larger group of people. In other words, an injustice is being commited to try to correct an injustice. Also, the achievements of a person from a minority community might be second guessed because people might think that person couldn't have accomplished whatever they did without an advantage. Finally, doesn't everyone want to deal with the best person available when they are seeking someone's expertise. Would anyone want surgeon who was about to cut into their body to actually be the second or third best candidate for that job?

Affirmative action has had many positve results in helping the protected class achieve a piece of the "American Dream." But, it's time to eliminate these programs in all of their forms and depend on the fact that the people with the power to make the decisions regarding someone's acceptance into a school, or a job, or a promotion, will see that it only makes their organization stronger to have the best possible people in place. The fact that a black man and a woman are two front runners for the most powerful position in this country, is a reflection of the fact that to a large extent this is happening in our country today. DB