The opposition to affirmative action comes from the assumption that the playing field is level to begin with. Historically, minorities had to be demonstratively MORE qualified than whites to have the same opportunity for a job. And even then, their prospects for advancement once they had it were (and still often are) seriously limited. The affirmative action concept is aimed at this. Obviously, legislating anything like that makes the system rigid and there will be occasions when someone who is truly less qualified is rewarded. The problem lies not with affirmative action but in the way it is instituted. Saying, for example, that minorities don't have to score as high on a standardized test is obviously flawed. It shows that it was brought in with a serious lack of imagination. I won't try to defend the way affirmative action works in every case, but the concept, IMHO, has merit. Until people are actually hired ONLY on the basis of their qualifications, and promoted ONLY on the basis of their performance, there will be a need for something like it.
- Yoj