NBC News/WSJ poll: Affirmative action support at historic low

[sunoftheskye]

As the Supreme Court prepares to once again weigh in on the issue of affirmative action, a record-low number of Americans support such programs, according to the latest NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll

Comments

[roseofjuly]

, a white, 69-year-old retired teacher from Rhode Island, who… did not wish to be identified.Why do we care what white people think about affirmative action? No seriously, why do we care? Is it really so surprising that the dominant group is a bit uneasy about giving up some of their unearned privilege? Because "reverse discrimination" is just a code for "now I have to give up my unearned privilege and advantage in getting employed and into elite places

[keeni84]

One president got caught making a "qualified" post - she was asked by professors of color if she would attempt to hire a person of color into an empty dean slot, and she responded that while she would love to hire a person of color, she "would not hire anyone who was not qualified."

And there are people who do not understand what that means. What she's saying here.

[redstar826]

Why do we care what white people think about affirmative action? No seriously, why do we care?

Because they could be voting on the issue? I don't know how it happened in other states, but in my state affirmative action was banned through a ballot initiative. So, changing public opinion on the issue does matter.

[alexvdl]

Right because now that we're living in a post racial society where women and minorities make dollar for dollar the same as white males, and there is no inherent racism or islamophobia extant in our judicial or legislative system, it's obviously time to lay Affirmative Action to rest.

... wait. None of that happened yet.

[alexvdl]

"I think hot chicks are the easiest setting there is because I mean, they can just flash a boob and get whatever they want."

^ That was sad to me with perfect sincerity when I was talking to someone about Scalzi's "Lowest Difficulty Setting" piece. I mean... look. If you're a white male, you're a white male. That's just a thing you are. What you do with it is what defines you. And if instead of acknowledging that you have it great and try to give that greatness to other people, you say THAT and completely remove any doubt that a) you know what's going on in the world and b) understand why immediately defaulting to looks/sex is part of the problem... well then. It's not an attack. Taking it as one is why we can't move past it.

Ego fucks everything up.

EDIT: Uh... that's a little off topic. Sorry. It's been a long day.

[redstar826]

I'm not surprised by this at all.

granted, it's less of a factor here since I'm in one of the states that has banned it (Michigan-which banned it by way of a ballot question in 2006), but even at the national level I don't see affirmative action being discussed that much. I don't see much work from the left being done to educate people on why affirmative action is important. I get the impression that there is a lot of ignorance out there.

[anjak_j]

One day affirmative action won't be required because all people will be treated fairly and without prejudice based on their skin colour, culture, religion, disability, sexuality, age...

But that day is not today, and I doubt it'll come in my lifetime either.

[anolinde]

I'm sure people have already thought of this, but why don't they just strip all identifying factors from students' applications? Name, gender, race, etc. Or maybe leave in their economic background so admissions officers can take into account the likelihood of having more/less educational opportunities or whatnot.

There are probably some flaws in what I just said (I can't think of any, though I'm sure you guys have been over this before), but it seems like it could be a reasonable compromise? That way opponents can't say they're putting white people at a "disadvantage."

[theguindo]

College entrance essays would probably hinder that, since applicants are supposed to write about their life experiences. And if you're writing about how racism affected you, for example, well...

[anolinde]

Welp, yup, that'd be a pretty major flaw. =/

[redstar826]

Just looking at 'merit' isn't as neutral as it might sound though.

For instance, depending on how questions are worded, how much test prep kids get, etc, looking at things like ACT/SAT scores can still skew things in favor of some groups compared to others.