Affirmative action
From Free Talk Live
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Affirmative Action is the process of showing a bias for ethnic, sexual, religious, or other minorities over other candidates in allowing access to employment, education, and other desirable positions.
This practice is defended because it is seen to rectify past injustices against African Americans and other minorities. Since blacks in the USA are relatively poorer and are at a disadvantage to whites, affirmative action is seen as a helpful means of reducing levels of inequality between blacks and whites.
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Opposition
Affirmative action is opposed for a number of reasons. These include:
Meritocracy
If contemporary Western society is indeed more meritocratic, then affirmative action undermines such an ideal. People receiving positions and jobs wouldn't necessarily be the most adept.
Resentment
If a person is given a job simply because of their minority status, then it may cause resentment amongst others, who might be more qualified for the position. Resentment could be created in those who had never previously been racist or held negative views toward minorities before. Evidently this would increase the prevalence of racism in society.
Freedom of association
Ultimately, companies shouldn't be forced to accept anyone, if they choose not to. Companies should be free to hire and fire anyone they choose and for any reason. The free market would provide incentives for companies that didn't discriminate, whilst companies that chose to discriminate would suffer penalties in the marketplace.
