James Frazer: Yes I'm Boring.

It's funny how perceived inequalities in statistics have led to legalized discrimination against the perceived majority in the form of affirmative action programs.

I applied for a job at the Bank of Canada the other day, and at the end of the application process was a questionnaire. The questions were mining to see if I was: female; aboriginal; disabled; or part of a visible minority group. The questionnaire was 'voluntary' but it was a series of yes/no questions, and obviously not taking it meant 'no' for all the answers.

I find it hard to believe that we have this kind of nonsense in a free country. My gender, race, or physical status should not make any difference as to whether or not I am going to be considered for a job. Isn't this exactly the point groups purportedly discriminated against intend to make?

I'm sure there are instances in the past where certain groups were discriminated against for whatever unjust reasons -- and that is unfortunate, but I do not believe that the solution is to alienate today's generation with the inverse of yesterday's prejudices.

Nevertheless, people are not all equal, undermining the notion of equality in statistics. Certain kinds of people are better suited for, or prefer certain kinds of work, and sometimes these certain kinds of people are of a specific gender and/or race.

For example, notice how most nurses are female? or how most NBA players are black men? or how most employees in Chinese restaurants are Chinese? Is this the result of discrimination? Not likely. Neither is it a reason to justify affirmative action programs.

The idea of affirmative action programs has three major flaws:

1. It implies the group being helped is somehow inferior and in need of help.
2. Somebody must decide what the 'right' ratio of different kinds of people is. Who can decide this? and upon what criteria?
3. Legalized discrimination based upon race and gender? Are we actually foolish enough to believe this to be a solution to alleged discrimination?

A free enterprise system, in its very design, discourages discrimination upon non-relevant reasons. Businesses operate upon the principle of hiring the best candidate for the job, and if a business turns down the best candidate for reasons of race or gender, then that business will be at a disadvantage: 1. losses due to hiring a less able worker; and 2. losses due to a competitor hiring the more able worker.

People who benefit from affirmative action programs should think twice about their stance on them -- the program might be helping them in today's political climate, but tomorrow things could be the exact opposite.

posted at: 03:24 | path: /Ideas | permanent link to this entry