Post on 18-Dec-2015
Equal Opportunity
May 4, 1999
The History of Race and Ethnic Relations in the United States
has not been Peaceful
Irish Chinese/Japanese Jews Native Americans Hispanics African Americans Italians, Poles, etc.
Real Courage was Involved in Working on Race/Ethnic
Relations
American history has not been conflict free
Rule of law often did not apply to those who were subjects of discrimination
Choice 1: People, not government, can ensure
fairness PROPONENTS SAY Our rights are
protected without affirmative action
We must respect people as individuals
It is good business
Americans strongly affirm the merit principle
Do you approve or disapprove of favoring a minority applicant who is less qualified than a white applicant when filling a job in a business that has few minority workers (March 1995, Gallup)
13%
87%
Favor Oppose
Choice 1: People, not government, can ensure
fairness OPPONENTS SAY Racism and sexism
are still here and strong
Businesses cannot be trusted to diversify on their own
Business cannot afford the training required
Should there be preference in hiring or promotion today where there has been
discrimination in the past?
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
Poll
1985
Poll
1987
Poll
1995
Race Should
Race ShouldNot
Women Should
Women ShouldNot
Affirmative Action Attitudes Vary by Race
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
More Less
Whites
Blacks
Do you think that blacks get more attention from government than they deserve? (NORC, 1994)
Choice 2:Level the Playing Field: give
everyone an equal chance
Proponents say:• Help all the poor,
not just some• a Fair start is
right, forcing outcomes is wrong
• Greatest needs are in health and education
Affirmative Action Attitudes Vary by Gender
Are you in favor of affirmative action programs designed to help women get better jobs and education? (LAT, 1995)
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
Fa
vo
r
Op
po
se
Men
Women
Choice 2:Level the Playing Field: give
everyone an equal chance
OPPONENTS SAY:• This doesn’t
address discrimination
• This is a huge gamble
• We cannot afford it
Do you think that [Women]/[Blacks] have an equal chance now to succeed?
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
Agree Disagree
Total
Male
Female
Total
Blacks
Hispanics
Whites
Choice 3:Finish what we started
Proponents Say:• Affirmative action
is working• We have a long
way to go• Government must
lead the way
The federal government should make special efforts to improve the social and economic position of minority groups to correct past discrimination (3/4-7, 1995)
0
10
20
30
40
50
Poll in 1995 Poll in 1991
Special Efforts
No SpecialEfforts
NBC/WSJ (April 3-4, 1995) Proposal to end the use of affirmative action
considerations such as race or gender
Don't Know
Favor
Oppose
Choice 3:Finish what we started
Opponents Say:• It is not fair to
anyone• It is tearing us
apart• No one likes it
anyway
Americans Strongly oppose Quotas
63
%
37
%
Favor Oppose Do you favor or oppose setting aside programs that guarantee a certain percentage of government contracts to minority owned firms? NBC (1995)