Are Anti-Racial Discrimination Laws Good or Stupid?
Posted: 01 Feb 2012, 02:34I have a question. What do you think of the anti-racial discrimination laws in America? Are they a good thing or a stupid concept? Do they help protect minorities, or simply create taboos and keep mouths shut but change nothing? Do they make any positive difference?
In other countries, people are allowed to state preferences in age, race and sex in their job/help wanted ads or apartment/room for rent ads. But not in America of course, where political correctness rules.
Is it part of human nature to be racist or have racial preferences? If so, can laws or political correctness change that? Do anti-racial discrimination laws really help anyone? What about affirmative action programs?
Realistically, I don't see how laws can have any affect on racial discrimination. Anyone can get around it easily. For example, although all employers will say "We do not discriminate based on age, race or sex" to not get into trouble, it doesn't mean anything in reality. Any employers can hide their preferences in age, race or sex, so that if someone applies for a position who does not fit the preference, he can simply make a polite excuse for not hiring them, such as: "We will get back to you" (and never do) or "We found someone else more qualified", etc. And no racial discrimination will ever be known. Same with sex or age discrimination. Anyone can get around such an anti-discrimination law and get away with it easily. So what's the point of it if it doesn't prevent any discrimination? All it does it prevent the open admission of discrimination, but does nothing to curb discrimination itself.
So logically, such anti-discrimination laws are pointless. People will just put up a non-racist facade to comply with the laws, but can still be totally racist, as long as they don't admit it openly.
Personally, I think the government has no right to tell a business that it can't have racial, sexual or age preferences in who they hire. That is the employer's business. If he feels comfortable hiring only members of a certain race, gender or age range, for whatever reason, then that's his business and his right. The government has no right to interfere with that - anymore than it has a right to tell people that they can't discriminate in love, dating and relationships based on race, age or sex. Same with renting out a room or apartment.
However, if there are extreme circumstances, such as every grocery store and supermarket in the southern USA refuses to let ethnic groups shop there - essentially starving them, then I believe the government should step in and do something, by either forcing those businesses to not discriminate against their customers, or by setting up non-discriminatory public food markets for them. When it comes to life and death, or essential needs, then some protection and assistance should be given.
Same with racial violence. There should obviously be laws to protect people from being physically attacked for their race. People should be allowed to walk in public areas safely. That's a given.
But anti-discrimination laws in hiring or renting out properties is another matter, for it interferes with the rights, freedoms and preferences of those doing the hiring or renting.
You cannot eliminate racism with laws or political correctness. Racism is not a good or bad thing, unless it results in violence. It is simply a preference, and everyone has preferences and tastes, because obviously, not everything is the same. Race is not a social construction. Races are inherently different in many ways. Genes are different. Genders are inherently different. And people are different. Some things look better, more attractive or more appealing than others, and vice versa.
What do you all think?
In other countries, people are allowed to state preferences in age, race and sex in their job/help wanted ads or apartment/room for rent ads. But not in America of course, where political correctness rules.
Is it part of human nature to be racist or have racial preferences? If so, can laws or political correctness change that? Do anti-racial discrimination laws really help anyone? What about affirmative action programs?
Realistically, I don't see how laws can have any affect on racial discrimination. Anyone can get around it easily. For example, although all employers will say "We do not discriminate based on age, race or sex" to not get into trouble, it doesn't mean anything in reality. Any employers can hide their preferences in age, race or sex, so that if someone applies for a position who does not fit the preference, he can simply make a polite excuse for not hiring them, such as: "We will get back to you" (and never do) or "We found someone else more qualified", etc. And no racial discrimination will ever be known. Same with sex or age discrimination. Anyone can get around such an anti-discrimination law and get away with it easily. So what's the point of it if it doesn't prevent any discrimination? All it does it prevent the open admission of discrimination, but does nothing to curb discrimination itself.
So logically, such anti-discrimination laws are pointless. People will just put up a non-racist facade to comply with the laws, but can still be totally racist, as long as they don't admit it openly.
Personally, I think the government has no right to tell a business that it can't have racial, sexual or age preferences in who they hire. That is the employer's business. If he feels comfortable hiring only members of a certain race, gender or age range, for whatever reason, then that's his business and his right. The government has no right to interfere with that - anymore than it has a right to tell people that they can't discriminate in love, dating and relationships based on race, age or sex. Same with renting out a room or apartment.
However, if there are extreme circumstances, such as every grocery store and supermarket in the southern USA refuses to let ethnic groups shop there - essentially starving them, then I believe the government should step in and do something, by either forcing those businesses to not discriminate against their customers, or by setting up non-discriminatory public food markets for them. When it comes to life and death, or essential needs, then some protection and assistance should be given.
Same with racial violence. There should obviously be laws to protect people from being physically attacked for their race. People should be allowed to walk in public areas safely. That's a given.
But anti-discrimination laws in hiring or renting out properties is another matter, for it interferes with the rights, freedoms and preferences of those doing the hiring or renting.
You cannot eliminate racism with laws or political correctness. Racism is not a good or bad thing, unless it results in violence. It is simply a preference, and everyone has preferences and tastes, because obviously, not everything is the same. Race is not a social construction. Races are inherently different in many ways. Genes are different. Genders are inherently different. And people are different. Some things look better, more attractive or more appealing than others, and vice versa.
What do you all think?