Comments on: State Question Would End Affirmative Action in OK http://kosu.org/2012/09/state-question-would-end-affirmative-action-in-ok/ The State's Public Radio Tue, 21 May 2013 16:36:09 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Thomas Rykala http://kosu.org/2012/09/state-question-would-end-affirmative-action-in-ok/comment-page-1/#comment-122990 Thomas Rykala Wed, 07 Nov 2012 20:37:52 +0000 http://kosu.org/?p=113835#comment-122990 This is not the case anymore Ms. Clements. Minorities own businesses, they have access to education through the NCLB vouchers and they learn to read through Headstart. All due respect, please do not get stuck in the remote past. Minorities, including women, have made substantial gains. This is not the case anymore Ms. Clements. Minorities own businesses, they have access to education through the NCLB vouchers and they learn to read through Headstart.

All due respect, please do not get stuck in the remote past. Minorities, including women, have made substantial gains.

]]> By: Thomas Rykala http://kosu.org/2012/09/state-question-would-end-affirmative-action-in-ok/comment-page-1/#comment-122984 Thomas Rykala Tue, 06 Nov 2012 21:50:28 +0000 http://kosu.org/?p=113835#comment-122984 Racism is everywhere, not only in OK but affirmative action is not the way to go due to the reversed discrimination issue. I have had nothing to do as a Caucasian and a male with the plight of "minorities" and yet affirmative action would have me bypassed to meet a quota? Its okay for a private agency to discriminate, however it is absolutely abhorrent for any government- funded agency to take my tax dollars and tell me to take a hike because I am Caucasian and a male. It is time for OK to respect all its inhabitants by stopping this monster of reversed discrimination. Racism is everywhere, not only in OK but affirmative action is not the way to go due to the reversed discrimination issue. I have had nothing to do as a Caucasian and a male with the plight of "minorities" and yet affirmative action would have me bypassed to meet a quota?

Its okay for a private agency to discriminate, however it is absolutely abhorrent for any government- funded agency to take my tax dollars and tell me to take a hike because I am Caucasian and a male. It is time for OK to respect all its inhabitants by stopping this monster of reversed discrimination.

]]> By: Helen Clements http://kosu.org/2012/09/state-question-would-end-affirmative-action-in-ok/comment-page-1/#comment-122983 Helen Clements Tue, 06 Nov 2012 21:38:20 +0000 http://kosu.org/?p=113835#comment-122983 That may be true on the face of it, but when "minorities" are still more poor, have less access to education, and have more of a battle to maintain jobs and grow businesses, is it unethical to level the playing field a bit? How would you feel if you were the "minority" who had been forbidden to learn to read, not been able to vote, had your land taken away from you by the "majority" folks? That may be true on the face of it, but when "minorities" are still more poor, have less access to education, and have more of a battle to maintain jobs and grow businesses, is it unethical to level the playing field a bit? How would you feel if you were the "minority" who had been forbidden to learn to read, not been able to vote, had your land taken away from you by the "majority" folks?

]]> By: Saull http://kosu.org/2012/09/state-question-would-end-affirmative-action-in-ok/comment-page-1/#comment-122980 Saull Tue, 06 Nov 2012 06:49:18 +0000 http://kosu.org/?p=113835#comment-122980 There is still alot of hidden racism especially in OK There is still alot of hidden racism especially in OK

]]> By: Thomas Rykala http://kosu.org/2012/09/state-question-would-end-affirmative-action-in-ok/comment-page-1/#comment-122976 Thomas Rykala Mon, 05 Nov 2012 21:34:34 +0000 http://kosu.org/?p=113835#comment-122976 We have the option to remedy past wrongs through the Civil Rights Act of 1964 that has been consistently renewed and the provisions within the EEOC guidelines. Any person who may deem him/herself shortchanged based on race/gender, can avail themselves of the legal route as afforded by the two resources referenced above. Affirmative action, in other words, has outlived its usefulness and has only created a monster that reversed discrimination is... We have the option to remedy past wrongs through the Civil Rights Act of 1964 that has been consistently renewed and the provisions within the EEOC guidelines. Any person who may deem him/herself shortchanged based on race/gender, can avail themselves of the legal route as afforded by the two resources referenced above.

Affirmative action, in other words, has outlived its usefulness and has only created a monster that reversed discrimination is…

]]> By: Thomas Rykala http://kosu.org/2012/09/state-question-would-end-affirmative-action-in-ok/comment-page-1/#comment-122975 Thomas Rykala Mon, 05 Nov 2012 19:55:51 +0000 http://kosu.org/?p=113835#comment-122975 What about hiring and admission based on qualifications and not on an affirmative actions' definition of "minority" status? Affirmative action is a direct cause of reversed discrimination. In other words, do not penalize me because I am a Caucasian and a male. We all have to work for our gains, not have them handed to us based on the color of our skin or our gender. What about hiring and admission based on qualifications and not on an affirmative actions' definition of "minority" status? Affirmative action is a direct cause of reversed discrimination. In other words, do not penalize me because I am a Caucasian and a male. We all have to work for our gains, not have them handed to us based on the color of our skin or our gender.

]]> By: Helen Clements http://kosu.org/2012/09/state-question-would-end-affirmative-action-in-ok/comment-page-1/#comment-122973 Helen Clements Mon, 05 Nov 2012 18:56:13 +0000 http://kosu.org/?p=113835#comment-122973 Thanks to KOSU for the helpful discussions of the state questions. Thanks to KOSU for the helpful discussions of the state questions.

]]> By: Helen Clements http://kosu.org/2012/09/state-question-would-end-affirmative-action-in-ok/comment-page-1/#comment-122972 Helen Clements Mon, 05 Nov 2012 18:55:24 +0000 http://kosu.org/?p=113835#comment-122972 I don't think that we are readyt to do away with Affirmative Action just yet, whether for race or gender. An example: _According to a 2009 profile on the status of women in Oklahoma, our state ranked 44th in women's median annual earnings, 35th in the earnings ration between women and men, 34th in the percent of employed women in professional or managerial occupations, 45th in percent of businesses that are women-owned, and 39th in the percent of women living above poverty. This profile was prepared by the Institute for Women's Policy Research, using data from the Census Bureau. It seems to me like we still need some affirmative action to remedy past wrongs. Here's a link: <a href="http://www.iwpr.org/initiatives/the-status-of-women-and-girls" rel="nofollow">http://www.iwpr.org/initiatives/the-status-of-wom...</a> I don't think that we are readyt to do away with Affirmative Action just yet, whether for race or gender. An example: _According to a 2009 profile on the status of women in Oklahoma, our state ranked 44th in women's median annual earnings, 35th in the earnings ration between women and men, 34th in the percent of employed women in professional or managerial occupations, 45th in percent of businesses that are women-owned, and 39th in the percent of women living above poverty. This profile was prepared by the Institute for Women's Policy Research, using data from the Census Bureau. It seems to me like we still need some affirmative action to remedy past wrongs. Here's a link: http://www.iwpr.org/initiatives/the-status-of-wom…

]]> By: ReggieGreene http://kosu.org/2012/09/state-question-would-end-affirmative-action-in-ok/comment-page-1/#comment-122814 ReggieGreene Mon, 01 Oct 2012 13:13:19 +0000 http://kosu.org/?p=113835#comment-122814 There are many complexities associated with affirmative action programs and policies. However, one issue which we continually ignore, as is the case with most government related programs and initiatives, is whether it is effective in addressing past wrongs. Think about this: How many beneficiaries of affirmative action programs have actually shared their good fortune with other members of their particular ethnic group, as opposed to using their increased opportunities and wealth to distance themselves from the masses of minority citizens? <a href="http://tinyurl.com/3gw6lkp" rel="nofollow">http://tinyurl.com/3gw6lkp</a> There are many complexities associated with affirmative action programs and policies. However, one issue which we continually ignore, as is the case with most government related programs and initiatives, is whether it is effective in addressing past wrongs. Think about this: How many beneficiaries of affirmative action programs have actually shared their good fortune with other members of their particular ethnic group, as opposed to using their increased opportunities and wealth to distance themselves from the masses of minority citizens? http://tinyurl.com/3gw6lkp

]]> By: RogerClegg http://kosu.org/2012/09/state-question-would-end-affirmative-action-in-ok/comment-page-1/#comment-122762 RogerClegg Thu, 20 Sep 2012 15:51:55 +0000 http://kosu.org/?p=113835#comment-122762 It doesn't make sense in 2012 for state or local governments to be discriminating against some Oklahomans and giving preferences to other Oklahomans on the basis of skin color, what country someone's ancestors came from, or gender in government contracting, employment, or education (including public universities). State Question 759 would end this unfair and divisive nonsense, and rightly so. Similar laws have worked very well, btw, not only in California but also in Washington, Michigan, Nebraska, and Arizona. It doesn't make sense in 2012 for state or local governments to be discriminating against some Oklahomans and giving preferences to other Oklahomans on the basis of skin color, what country someone's ancestors came from, or gender in government contracting, employment, or education (including public universities). State Question 759 would end this unfair and divisive nonsense, and rightly so. Similar laws have worked very well, btw, not only in California but also in Washington, Michigan, Nebraska, and Arizona.

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