Let’s look at
this and file it under the “everyone has to compromise” and see if we, as
Americans, can address the idea that whites are now discriminated against
unfairly and minorities get an unfair leg up.
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| What Americans all want is a fair system, - but most see it is rigged. Let's figure out how to move to a fair system. |
I want to start
with some baselines.
1.
The best
end result is a fair system where people are not judged on race at all.
2.
There has been a systemic bias against African-Americans
(and Native-Americans) in this country, although not in every instance and in
every location. To address a color-blind future, we have to address this basic
fact.
3.
Everyone of all races would like a fair system
where their children have the same ability to advance as any other person.
4.
My bias
is that the most destructive method of discrimination right now for minorities
in general and African-Americans in particular is unequal education systems.
My proposal
would be to set a baseline for measurement – say 2017.
Then set an end date for affirmative-action,
say 2020 + 18 years: this allows a finite time frame to end preferential treatment
based on race, IF we actually address the problem for a generation. This end
date would be in effect as noted below.
From 2020 – 2038
Education
·
From 2017 baseline, find the spending
per pupil for every school district in the state.
·
Find the median number of spending per pupil by
district – that is ½ the school districts spend more per pupil, ½ of them spend
less.
· For any school district that spends below the median amount per student, raise all those school districts spending that median price (adjusted only for inflation and number of students). Yes, this will be an investment, but we are about to go $1.5 Trillion dollars in the whole for tax cuts for businesses, this would be much less money and a better investment.
o
Note: I know this is tough to keep states from gaming the system, but I have a penalty
system in mind.
·
For 18 years, all children will get a reasonably
fair education.
Affirmative
Action from 2020 – 2038
·
Public Universities will maintain a policy of “at
least a percentage of African-America students” admitted to University as the
percentage in the state at 2017.
·
Jobs that are paid for by tax-payers (including
federal contract bids) must employ the same percentage of African-Americans at
the company level as either (a) the percentage of African-Americans in the state or
(b) the same percentage of African Americans in the specific county AND all adjacent
counties (regardless of state).
o
For current employers (police, fire, city
administrations), this will effect only the percentage will be of new hires So employers don't have to hire only African-Americans to meet the requirements at the start. The idea is to set a fair baseline moving forward.
After 2038, provided
that every school district in the state has met the criteria, affirmative
action programs can be halted. There will still be anti-discrimination laws,
but no set percentages for employees for any race or minority status.
These employment
requirements would apply only for African-American & Native-American
minorities. This is because the country has legally
and systemically discriminated against African-Americans and Native-Americas
for hundreds of years. We should address that as best as we can. It is very true that other minorities and women have all been discriminated at
one time or another, but I believe that these issues can be addressed by
non-discrimination laws and cultural changes.