Affirmative Action Ban?

Question

On http://www.newsmax.com/archives/ic/2006/11/8/30352.shtml?s=ic there is a story on Michigan’s recent vote to ban certain aspects of Affirmative Action. This ban will no longer allow the consideration of race or sex in the determination of eligibility for acceptance in colleges or government jobs.
Opponents of this ban worry that the passing of this would spread to other states and regress the progress made toward equality for minorities and women. Supporters believe that affirmative action was unfairly keeping some people from getting jobs and university admissions because minorities were being given an edge.
Can equality really be equality if it is the law to say that you have to enroll so many minorities or women in a university; or consider so many minorities or women for a job?

Answer 1

I understand people's confusion over AA, but what about this scenario? It happens all the time: 18 qualified people apply for a job. One, however, is extremely qualified, heads above the rest. She is the only woman applicant. The man hiring her convinces himself that because she is a woman, she'll likely not work as hard because she probably will want kids and be a mom some day. OR this scenario. Of the 18 applicants, the one who stands way over the rest is an African American. The man hiring decides that his clients would be uncomfortable working with a minority, so he gives the job to a white man.

Discrimination does exist. Maybe AA doesn't solve these problems, but how do you make it fair for women and minorities if it's not a law to have fair hiring practices?

Answer 2

AA is the worst possible thing for American Business (besides unions). You can have 18 VERY qualified white people apply, but you need to hire the underqualified Mexican because you need a hispanic worker.... that'll compete with the world.....

Answer 3

It's about time. Affirmative Action = discrimination. Punish schools/companies that discriminate, but drop these silly, unfair quotas!