Affirmative action in the United States refers to policies that take gender, race, or ethnicity into account in an attempt to promote equal opportunity. The focus of such policies ranges from employment and public contracting goals to educational outreach and health programs. The impetus towards affirmative action is twofold: to maximize the benefits of diversity in all levels of society, and to redress disadvantages due to overt, institutional, or involuntary discrimination.
In many cases, affirmative action in the United States is meant to encourage public institutions, such as universities, hospitals and police forces, to be more representative of the populations they serve.

Thats the jist of it, borrowed it from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Affirma..._United_States

I am split on the topic, I believe that the best canidate for the job should get the job. I believe the best student should get the scholarship. I believe the best should get the best, regardless of color, gender, religious beliefs and sexuality. I am also not sure if America could function without this in place.

Discuss.

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Affirmative action is bias and a contradiction. It is racism ,sexism....
Ironic huh.

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Is throwing good money after bad.

The idea is nice "help out the less fortunate". But what that does is gives a racial preference in our system. Meaning those who are not white-working-class-males get a handout (including rich corporate bankers, without A-A)..

But there is one group of people alienated because of the color of their skin and their gender.

That is just discrimination with a different color. Some people call that "racism".

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I always hire the best person for the job.
I had some state contracts that required me to have a head count of minorities. I had to hugely over bid to make up for that. State was wasting money. I hired people that I could not fire. What a waste of tax payers money.

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Do you need the cure?