Affirmative Action: Debate Time!!!

National Debate over Affirmative Action:

Argument Against

Argument For

Affirmative action leads to reverse discrimination. Affirmative action lowers standards of accountability needed to push students or employees to perform better. Students admitted on this basis are often not prepared to handle the schools to which they've been admitted. It would help lead a truly color-blind society. It is condescending to minorities to say they need affirmative action to succeed. It demeans true minority achievement; i.e. success is labeled as result of affirmative action rather than hard work and ability. Once enacted, affirmative actions are tough to remove, even after the underlying discrimination has been eliminated.

Diversity is desirable and won't always occur if left to chance. Students starting at a disadvantage need a boost. Affirmative action draws people to areas of study and work they may never consider otherwise. Some stereotypes may never be broken without affirmative action. Affirmative action is needed to compensate minorities for centuries of slavery or oppression.

Local Debate, Right Here in Oklahoma:

Supporting Affirmative Action:

• attracts a diverse pool of qualified candidates
• entails widening its recruiting activities 
• creates a diverse work force
• will help meet demand of increasing minorities in the state

Opposing Affirmative Action:

• state hires unqualified candidates in order to meet ethnic and gender quotas
• create reverse discrimination 
• decrease work quality and ethics
• lowers standards