10/18/2006

Editorial

Without affirmative action, will playing field be even?

In the end, voters deciding on Proposal 2 need to ask themselves a simple question: If all affirmative action programs ended today, would we have a level playing field for women, blacks, Hispanics and the chronically poor in terms of college admissions, government contracts and hiring?

The answer, if we're even remotely honest with ourselves, is no. Even with affirmative action programs, the number of women and minorities admitted to the best schools, landing government contracts or getting solid jobs does not reflect their numbers in the population.

Given that fact, the decision becomes clear-cut: Do you favor policies that reflect decades of discrimination or do you want to continue trying to right the system? Turning a blind eye to reality is not, despite what Proposal 2 backers say, fairness. Pretending that there aren't systemic problems with admissions and hiring won't make those problems go away.

The pro-Proposal 2 effort has so far been a collection of sound bites and half truths that play on old stereotypes but ignore day-to-day life.

Proposal creator Ward Connerly, a former University of California regent (who is black), likes to say affirmative action sends a "subtle message" that black people are not good enough to get into certain schools or land some jobs.

Well, there's nothing subtle about a Detroit high school graduate's efforts to get into college despite years of substandard education. Ask qualified women who get passed over for good jobs whether the message was "subtle" enough for them.

The very name of the ballot effort — the Michigan Civil Rights Initiative — says worlds about the motives behind Proposal 2. Voters may have thought twice about a ballot issue called "Reinstitute Discrimination Now."

Affirmative action policies are far from perfect and some have been abused. But to throw out a system that has given opportunity to tens of thousands of Michigan residents who would not have had those chances because of their gender or race is wrong.

Vote "no" on Proposal 2.