Discuss the main arguments for and against affirmative action.

Discuss the main arguments for and against affirmative action. Has this program worked as it was intended? Why or why not?

Many on either side of the debate of Affirmative Action cite whether or not the program is beneficial or detrimental to the well being of the nation. This is because some see Affirmative Action as a way of helping minority parties to become more successful and stable within the American economy, thusly, securing the entirety of the American economy through their success. However, on the other hand, many people believe that the need to cater to minorities in jobs, education, and other things, only creates entitlement in these communities, actually hurting them. These are the arguments made in genuine caring for the well being of the nation and all of its people, but often times, there can be racist, and classist undertones to the arguments against Affirmative Action.

Many are adamant against quota-based Affirmative action which is the idea that, for instance, a police force was required to hire one minority officer and one female officer for every two white, male officers, no matter what. The opposition of this is reasonable because it is so rigid that it could create problems even more, and furthermore place qualified candidates out of jobs behind underqualified. Ultimately, some opponents view Affirmative Action as an illegal form of discrimination that discriminates against those who are not in minority groups. Coming from the Regents of the University of California v. Bakke decision, quota based systems were deemed unconstitutional under equal protections of the law for public institutions like a school to have quotas, but still allowed for race to play a factor in decision making (just not the only factor).

While Affirmative Action has always existed as a system to help minorities advance in a nation that has run them over throughout its history, it has a number of flaws that make it seem convoluted and very open to interpretation. This being said, it seems that the Affirmative Action rules are with the right idea in mind, and the overall impact it has had holds far more positive than negative effects on the population, and the success of social mobility, a founding ideal of the United States.