response 102 of 232:

Jan 22 03:20 UTC 2003

I don't agree that affirmative action is unconstitutional.  The 
Constitution is a set of guidelines, not exact laws closely covering 
varieties of circumstances.  Every "right" is moderated.  Affirmative 
action laws are clearly not intended to evade or contradict the 
Constitution, not at least as a general rule.

But I don't think they're intended to correct any past or present 
wrongs, either.  What they're intended to do is buy votes by segmenting 
society and giving parts of it favors.  I don't think there's been much 
reduction in discrimination or racism because of affirmative action, 
any more than there was from desegregation busing.  There's less racism 
and much less discrimination, but it's come because of laws prohibiting 
it, and changes in society's view, not because of affirmative action.  
No minorities are going to be hurt by losing the chance to be given 
positions in colleges they could not earn.

Instead, I think society's resources would be better used in finding a 
way to correct the lack of respect for, and accomplishment in, 
education among minorities.  Inner city black kids don't *want* to be 
educated.  Their parents aren't that interested.  They don't think they 
can get a better life that way.

Why aren't they?  Because the schools are bad, the schools are full of 
drugs and rife with violence, the teachers are intimidated or 
disillusioned?  Or because U-M doesn't drop admissions standards low 
enough to let those people get in (and fail out) if they want to?