quotas: for or against

[ButterflyBlood]

I'm not talking about affirmative action, I'm talking about what most people who oppose affirmative action think it is, hiring quotas. in other words requirements that a certain percentage of workers hired must be of a certain race. This has actually be illegal since the Board of Regents of University of California v. Bakke decision of the 70's, yet too many people mistake affirmative action for it today.

I'm against them though.

[pasadenaboy]

1. I'm against them

I am for affirmative action that takes into account both ethnic and socio-economic diversity.

[wuushew]

2. Most people don't understand what the word quota means

Quota refers to a real number like five, ten etc. People confuse quota with percentage which still angers them. They are not angry that they have to higher a quota of X minorities, but instead higher percentage X of minorities.

Main Entry: quo·ta
Pronunciation: 'kwO-t&
Function: noun
Etymology: Medieval Latin, from Latin quota pars how great a part
Date: 1618
1 : a proportional part or share; especially : the share or proportion assigned to each in a division or to each member of a body
2 : the number or amount constituting a proportional share

[ShimokitaJer]

3. absolutely against

Any attempt to encourage diversity and fairness in hiring, etc. has to deal with a complicated gray area of qualifications, need, fair playing field, etc. and it is thus necessary to make decisions on a case-by-case basis. Quotas are the exact opposite of this kind of reasoned decision-making, identifying race, class, etc. as THE defining qualification rather than merely a factor in the decision.

Despite what Republicans would have us believe, there is nothing in affirmative action that requires quotas -- adherance to affirmative action is determined by the judicial system, on a case-by-case basis as it should be. However, quotas are the easiest method to quantify and thus the method that requires the least thought by administrators, and are thus popular with those who want to make it easy on themselves to cover their asses with regard to basic affirmative action compliance. Republicans are right to decry quotas, but wrong to assume they define affirmative action.

[cryofan]

4. Against: we need to create a strong and colorblind welfare state

to lessen poverty and improve quality of life for everyone.