"Classifications based on race carry a danger of stigmatic harm. Unless
they are strictly reserved for remedial settings, they may in fact promote
notions of racial inferiority and lead to a politics of racial hostility.
We thus reaffirm the view expressed by the plurality in Wygant that the
standard of review under the Equal Protection Clause is not dependent on
the race of those burdened or benefited by a particular classification."
(O'Connor, p.500)
We do not want to cause any more hostility than there already is in our
society by imposing special standards. Our goal is to promote unity in our
society, not separation. This also affects the efficiency in our workforce.
In the work place, people hired under special assistance may slow
the process. If someone was hired over another simply because of the color
of his skin, and not by his qualifications, the business loses as well.
They must pay someone the same salary they would have paid a more efficient
employee. Lowering standards in the workplace, to accommodate a race, is a
step back to poorly made products. In the 1980's, American cars were
marked with a distinction of poor quality. Since then, our cars have
vastly improved, but the distinction is still planted in many people's
minds. If we lower our standards in the white collar force, we may develop
the same distinction in our corporate businesses as we have in our cars.
Another point is that many people say that affirmative action will bring
diversity to our workforce. A projection done by the San Jose Tribune
suggests that by the year 2000, white males will make up only 10% of new
hires. This does not promote diversity, rather reverse discrimination.
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