By promoting a system of race entitlement, affirmative action is keeping America from evolving into a colorblind society where people are judged on their abilities, not the color of their skin.

Affirmative action is defended as an act of equality; but its real purpose is to redistribute inequality. Rather than seeking to expand incomes and opportunities, it instead seeks to reallocate existing opportunities; a classic lose-lose situation.

Affirmative action doesn’t reduce the gap between the wealthy and poor, but, more accurately, it evaluates the gender, racial and ethnic makeup to see whether it reflects society’s makeup.

The primary flaw in affirmative action is that it fights fire with fire – discrimination with discrimination – resulting in reverse discrimination.

Affirmative action policies are intended to ensure equal opportunity for minorities and women. However, these policies create quotas by requiring a certain number of job positions be filed by minorities and women, thereby discriminating against qualified white males. By excluding deserving people out of jobs and schools to make room for minorities with weaker records, affirmative action only intensifies racial divisions.

By promoting a system of race entitlement, affirmative action is keeping America from evolving into a colorblind society where people are judged on their abilities, not the color of their skin. Preferences are a moral failure.

It is true that the American government has intentionally discriminated before with the institution of slavery and Jim Crow laws. Such practices violated the fundamental principle that “all men are created equal;” but racial preferences designed to compensate for prior discrimination are also inconsistent with such ideologies.

For a brief, shining moment in American History, the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s rose to combat racist laws, institutions and practices. The principle of colorblind justice was recognized.

However, the issue for Americans is how we can surpass the divisions of past discrepancies. It is not through a system of preferences.

Racial preferences are frequently justified as a means to help low-income blacks. But evidence shows beneficiaries are primarily middleclass or wealthy.

Furthermore, affirmative action has diverted attention away from addressing the root of black Americans’ disadvantage. The lagging educational achievement can be eradicated not though preferences, but through reform in the elementary and secondary education system.

Preferences do nothing to help develop the necessary skills for social and economic advancement.

Affirmative action attacks the dignity of minorities and women. It casts doubt over their competence. Preferences send a message that such favored groups are incapable of meeting the standards that white males are required to meet.

Simply because they are members of a preferred group, individuals are deprived of recognition and respect they have earned. Achievements gained through hard work and raw talent are accredited to affirmative action policies. Individuals’ abilities are called into question. Standards drop, incentives to perform above standard diminish, and stereotypes are further reinforced.

All of these things result from treating individuals differently on the basis of race: reducing individuals to racial status. American history has taught us racial distinctions are innately unjust.

Although the underlying purpose of preferences is to eliminate racism, it is flawed in its mechanics. Rather than abolishing racial barriers, preferential policies continually remind Americans of racial differences.

If minorities and women want to be equals, equality entails fair opportunities. No handouts, no preferences. To be equals, first requires being treated as such.

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