Question

The question is from the textbook Inequality, Discrimination, Poverty, and Mobility Question 5 from chapter 11:

"What are the trade-offs involved in affirmative action? Do you consider affirmative action to be a fair policy? What efficiency loss would you be willing to tolerate for a successful affirmative action program?"

Answer 1

On the debate of correcting racial imbalances, which exist due to the result of past discrimination, there were many moral issues that were raised as a form of pro/con arguments with points as well as counterpoints. But the argument which drew my attention most was against the affirmative action which addressed towards the violation of the principle of equality by the affirmative action itself, in which point was being said which summarizes that although there is African American people feel trapped in socio-economic position, affirmative action programs make everybody racially conscious, the objective of the affirmative action programs is to balance the equality, and this cannot be treated itself by treating people unequally. One harm can never be the solution for other’s harm, it should be compensation, which should be given to the needy. Although women and African American may have suffered in the past, but treating the entire generations for the same is like a reminder of their past. It is also a discrimination for the present men and white people which causes tension and frustration among white people when anyone gets promoted just by their background rather than their merits, these actions violate the very cause it is working for.

Affirmative action programs should only be a gentle push to the one who lacks resources to gain momentum, organizations profit from diverse races and cultures in men as well as women. Although there is an ironical situation in which the government has to deal with situation by discriminating the other, this push may bring a change in someone’s lifestyle, this may help to heal the wrong doings of the past, and this also brings a motivation in young blacks and young women to achieve more than their previous generations, this boost of self-esteem and self-respect are the priority of the affirmative action, for which these actions are being taken on. Statistics shows that a large population of African American are below middle class jobs, this racial rift in the country takes hundreds of years to heal by itself, even now when jobs few and schools are expensive already, these gaps may further draw the line and it may be impossible for the later to reach them and the cycle of discrimination may be never-ending. As it may be ironical, but without proper affirmative action, the progress towards equality stops.