Affirmative Action

Affirmative Action

“All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.” The classic line from George Orwell’s novel, Animal Farm, still rings quite true today. American society has constantly plagued itself by overextending its gratitude for wrongs committed all too long ago, and is therefore still suffering the repercussions. Remedies are all too often far too generous and even tending to breach those same boundaries it is trying to protect. Such is the case in the sensitive issue of Affirmative Action. First mentioned by President Kennedy in 1961, this controversial topic has remained at the forefront of politics since its spawning. As defined by World Book Encyclopedia, Affirmative Action is, “policies aimed at increasing the number of people from certain social groups(primarily minorities) in employment, education, business, government, and other areas.” While initially an admirable attempt at incorporating participation from minority society, Affirmative Action has become more of a political tool than a social program, and its intent is far from what it once was.

The Federal Government first began taking a stance on civil rights issues in the 1960’s with the introduction of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. This set the first standards for non-discrimination in public, though private discrimination was, and still is, allowed. Undoubtedly, this was a superb achievement for the United States. Equality became a decree, and the Constitution’s words finally rang true, “All men are created equal.” Affirmative Action first began to emerge in the early 60’s under the leading 300 corporations in the nation who then coined the name Plans for Progress. The standards they set for themselves would eventual...

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..., and government jobs were almost completely closed off to minorities and women. In our present day, minorities and women have gained a tremendous increase in the application of jobs in those workplaces. Unlike the days before affirmative action, where job opportunity was mostly given to the middle class white American, now jobs are being given to minorities and women due to this “quota” system.

Overall, this system has simply become a burden on society. It is only causing the tension it once tried to quell. Rather than helping ease racial tension, it’s only stirring it up once again. As it is obvious little will be accomplished through the federal government over the next few years, the change relies almost solely upon the shoulders of the states. To follow in the footsteps of their predecessors, and do away with those policies that only bring trouble.