The responses to The Spectrum's informal poll on whether "affirmative action is a fair policy" show how nearly four decades of political correctness have indoctrinated many into accepting that certain groups are entitled to special treatment. Rather, there should be no discrimination, negative or positive, in employment or education based on race, gender, ethnicity, or religion.
Affirmative action requires that decision-makers treat some people differently than others based on one or more of these characteristics - that is, give them "better" or "more" opportunities, while equally (or better) qualified persons not meeting a minority test may be passed over. Such preferential treatment is the exact opposite of equality of opportunity. What was designed to be a temporary remedy for past social injustice became an entrenched policy of reverse discrimination. Affirmative action is now a nonsense that has persisted much too long, and it is time for the pendulum to swing back toward the center.
You should have asked, "Do you believe race-based or gender-based employment and education policies are fair?"
Photo: Meredith Forrest Kulwicki
