re: #130 SpaceJesus

minorities were systematically forced by the state and society into the lowest possible rung on the economic ladder for generations. this created a cycle of poverty, low self-worth and disadvantage among minorities that persists today. while i would love to have perfect competition between americans for things in life, it is entirely unfair to want this kind of competition when millions of minority americans are forced to start out at a disadvantage in life because of the near permanent damage the state and society did to their parents and ancestors. affirmative action may not be a perfect solution, but it’s the only way to right the wrongs of the past.

I think the need for affirmative action has passed, but I also think it was the best thing to do at the time and that the US is better off today as a result. It may not fit squarley with traditional capitalist theory, but neither did slavery, de facto slavery, government forced segregation, etc… .