Is Affirmative Action a JOKE?

What is AFFIRMATIVE ACTION supposed to do?

Affirmative action generally means giving preferential treatment to minorities in admission to universities or employment in government & businesses. The policies were originally developed to correct decades of discrimination and to give disadvantaged minorities a boost. The diversity of our current society (as opposed to that of 50 years ago) seems to indicate the programs have been a success. But now, many think the policies are no longer needed and that they lead to more problems than they solve.

One notable example is a case recently argued in the Supreme Court concerning admissions to the University of Michigan. The school had a policy of rating potential applicants on a point system. Being a minority student earned you more than twice as many points as achieving a perfect SAT score. Three white students sued citing this as raced-based discrimination. School officials said that diversity is desirable and affirmative action is the only way to achieve true diversity. Several other cases involving affirmative action have followed similar arguments.

Some of the most noted issues with Affirmative action:

1.REVERSE DISCRIMINATION- Affirmative action is designed to end discrimination and unfair treatment of employees/students based on color, but it in effect does the opposite. Whites who work harder and/or are more qualified can be passed over strictly because they are white. Contrary to many stereotypes, many minorities fall into the middle or upper class, and many whites live in poverty. Unfortunately, the way things are set up now, a poverty-stricken white student who uses discipline and hard work to become the best he can be can be passed over by a rich minority student who doesn't put in much effort at all. Is this fair? No. However, this isn’t the case every time either. But still, should we reward students based on race or based on achievement?

2.RACIST EMPLOYERS & MAKING A “COLOR BLIND SOCIETY” - When you apply for a job or fill out a college application, how often are asked about things like your hair color, eye color, or height? Unless it's for a modeling or athletic position, probably never. Why? It's because hair & eye color or height don't have any effect on your ability to do a job or succeed at a school. There's no association between hair/eye color and intelligence, discipline, ambition, character, or other essentials. Thus, it's useless to even ask about the information. Conversely, there's no association between skin color and intelligence/discipline/etc. So why do we keep drawing attention to it? Wouldn't it be great if we one day lived in a society when skin color was ignored as much as hair & eye color? Unfortunately jobs must hire a particular number of minorities/non-minorities. This truly does help prevent racist bosses from having an all white (or black) staff. But at the same time it can be unfair to both parties. The boss is still racist at the end of the day.

3.IS AFFIRMITAVE ACTION an INSULT? When you give preferential treatment to minorities in admission or hiring practices, you're in effect saying "You're too stupid or incapable of achieving on your own, so let me help you". It is condescending and insulting to imply that minorities cannot achieve their goals through hard work and ability. Ask Condi Rice or Colin Powell how they got to where they are -- hard work or affirmative action? Both were hired because they are bright, articulate, and well-suited for their positions. My guess is that both would be offended if you said they got to where they were strictly because of affirmative action. The same can be said of minority doctors, lawyers, business leaders, etc. Too often, their achievements are demeaned by people who believe preferential treatment got them to their current positions. Minorities must then work twice as hard to earn respect.

MY OPINION: I have heard many people say that Affirmative Action is a crime in itself. Both whites and minorities seem to think so. I like that employers must hire minorities. I wish we didn’t have to make this a law, but unfortunately we do. I don’t like the idea of giving additional credits in college or promotions on the job just because of race. This does seem like it provokes racism instead of helping prevent it. What’s the solution?
*Has anyone benefited from Affirmative Action? Has anyone been a “victim” from it?