Discrimination: The Good (To Include), The Bad (To Exclude), The Ugly (How To Tell The Difference)

Dateline: Kansas City

A federal judge is weighing whether to bar Kansas City from enforcing an affirmative action program meant to include minority and women participation in tax-assisted construction projects.

That’s the debate in a nutshell. Proponents of affirmative action believe that discrimination is both necessary and proper to include “underrepresented” minorities. Critics of affirmative action believe that racial discrimination is wrong, whether used to include or exclude (in part because we believe that using it to include some excludes others).

Say What? (5)

  1. Ken April 28, 2005 at 3:01 pm | | Reply

    What needs to be done is simple. On every project give duplicate contracts: one to the best contractor and one to the best losing contractor of another ethnic group.

    The second contractor builds the project. A contractor of the opposite sex is hired to tear it down. Then the best contractor builds the final structure to be used.

    Thus unfairness and exclusion can be diminished.

    The higher total costs will also be a civic good. For taxpayers of all diversities will be more fully aware of their duties.

    So many of those who today can comfortably pay their taxes do not properly acknowledge that governments deserve all their wealth. My proposal will combat this.

  2. EdWonk April 28, 2005 at 10:00 pm | | Reply

    Newspeak: We must impose discrimination to remedy discrimination.

    Groupthink: If you disagree with the above, you must be a bigot.

  3. filigree social April 29, 2005 at 7:22 pm | | Reply

    doh… affirmative action is designed to alter a skewed balance….. geddit?

    We got enough white m/c males doing stuff. They had all the breaks anyway ‘cos their Mommies and Daddies had all the cash.

  4. Andrew P. Connors April 30, 2005 at 10:44 am | | Reply

    Yeah…because every white male comes from a rich background. Makes perfect sense.

    *end sarcasm*

  5. Michelle Dulak Thomson April 30, 2005 at 2:27 pm | | Reply

    Yeah…because every white male comes from a rich background. Makes perfect sense.

    Especially the ones in the construction business, which is where the elite meet, yes?

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