I agree that someone getting a job because of nepotism is easier to understand than someone getting a job because of affirmative action; however, I actually believe nepotism is more harmful than affirmative action. When used effectively affirmative action really just evens out the playing field. I do not believe affirmative action holds or pulls those on top down; rather, it allows groups that were once marginalized have a chance to catch up to the group that has always been on top. I feel that nepotism is more damaging because it creates a sense of entitlement much more so than affirmative action. Although I cannot be sure, I would think people who have benefitted from nepotism would also be more likely to do subpar work because they believe they have greater job security. Of course it would be wonderful if everyone was judged solely based on his or her own merits, but this society is just too dependent on inequality. This country was made on inequality, and it continues to run on inequality.
Part III My father works at a non-profit for adults with disabilities. One of his tasks is to go out into the community and look for jobs for these adults with disabilities. There are employers who set aside jobs for these kinds of individuals. This is affirmative action, but people with disabilities would most likely not be able to receive employment without it. I am glad Dr. Richards brought up the great similarities between nepotism and affirmative action. People never complain about nepotism until they have been passed over for a job or promotion because of it, but I always hear people complain about affirmative action even if they do not believe it did affect them directly. I thought Dr. Richards did a great job in discussing the different kinds of affirmative action and those that have benefitted from it (not usually people of color most commonly believed). Bottom line, affirmative action does not hold people down; it just evens out the playing field so others who have been historically marginalized have a chance to catch up.
Part II This is similar to the very loud complaints people have regarding welfare. Instead of the people who complain about welfare (typically middle class) going after the very wealthy who have created the huge economic gap between rich and poor, they go after the people who receive social benefits. Some in the middle class seem to think the working poor are pulling them down, and very few seem to see it is the wealthy that are really pushing them down. I believe the saying “don’t hate the player, hate the game” is totally applicable to these situations. The reason why we still need affirmative action is a structural one. As Dr. Richards mentioned, our society is inherently unequal. When people see an opportunity to move ahead of others, they will take advantage of it. Who is actually going to turn down an offer for a really decent job even if they know they did not earn it on merits alone? We have all benefitted from affirmative action, directly or indirectly, and anyone who does not believe that is in denial.
Part I From the time I had a very basic understanding of what affirmative action was, I supported it, and I definitely still do. I can absolutely understand people’s problem with the idea of affirmative action. I can understand that many people believe it is racism or sexism, and I do not think those that believe this are completely wrong; however, to say affirmative action is unfair is like saying it is not necessary because there is no prejudice. I do not know if the people who believe this are naïve or just bitter that someone who does not look like them got the job. This country was built on inequality, and it continues to run on inequality. White men have been at the top for the entire history of the United States, and I do not fully understand why so many of them choose to turn a blind eye to this fact. I suppose they believe that since they are not the ones responsible for the deep, deep racism or sexism that plagued the United States in the past that they should not be punished for their ancestors’ deeds. White men continue to be on top and continue to get jobs because of their race and gender, and I cannot imagine that stopping anytime soon. No one, people of color and women included, is taking away their jobs.
Part III Hazleton is a fairly depressed area so I do know people who did not qualify for certain benefits, but some illegal immigrants did qualify and were able to receive benefits. Some of these immigrants do not pay taxes (they most likely get paid under the table for work), so this is a fair argument in some cases. However, I am glad Dr. Richards brought up an example of an illegal immigrant who received a (legally) legitimate paycheck where taxes were taken out yet will never be able to benefit from this because he is undocumented; he cannot receive social security when he gets older. Illegal immigrants are being exploited by corporations. Corporations want illegal immigrants because they are willing to work long hours with very poor conditions in exchange for very little pay. Workers are the only commodity in which a corporation can save money. They can add hours to the workday and cut wages, but they can only cut the costs of raw materials, machinery or utilities to run the corporation by so much; raw materials and such cannot be as easily negotiated with as workers can. Politicians are primarily on corporations’ payrolls so of course there is a stalemate regarding illegal immigrants. Citizens are fighting the wrong force.
Part II I also think it is worth mentioning the mayor who proposed these laws, Lou Barletta, is now a congressman in Washington, D.C. His campaign was undoubtedly successful because of the donations that came from private citizens across the country. Although I cannot say this with great certainty, I would imagine that if a politician is running for office, particularly for the House of Representatives as Barletta was, this politician will not see too many donations from private citizens living in different states than the one the politician will be representing. It was documented, though, that a great portion of Barletta’s donations did in fact come from private citizens from all different states. This signals to me that illegal immigration is such a huge national concern, even to those who are probably not directly affected (but feel that they are somehow). The biggest (or at least loudest) attack on illegal immigrants that I hear either on the news or in line at a store in Hazleton is that they do not pay taxes yet still reap the benefits of the United States’ social programs.
Part I I would be lying if I said I deeply understand the issue of immigration, particularly illegal immigration; however, I do have first-hand exposure to the great tension illegal immigration has caused, and continues to cause. I am from Hazleton. Truly the only reason why Hazleton might be on the map is due to our then-mayor’s staunch stand against illegal immigration. The mayor really took it upon himself to set up English-only laws and imposition of heavy fines to any landlords or business owners who rented to or hired illegal immigrants. These were all declared unconstitutional. There was such backlash at this declaration. The editorial section of the local newspaper was littered with letters regarding illegal immigrants, and none of them were even remotely positive. The issue was on the minds of people so much so that when I worked in retail, the (non-Hispanic) customers in the store would make random comments to me about Hispanics that were completely uncalled for. I never responded; I did not know how. I did not want to agree with them (because I don’t), nor did I want to disagree with them and start a debate with a customer.
It is amazing at how much the entire world is run by less than 1 percent of its population. Corporations rule essentially every society. They have the money and the power. This is why there is such a legal stalemate regarding this issue. Corporations want illegal immigrants because they are willing to work long hours with very poor conditions in exchange for very little pay. Labor (i.e. humans) is the only commodity in which a corporation can save money. They can add hours to the workday and cut wages, but they can't really cut the costs of raw materials, machinery or utilities to run the corporation. Capitalism exploits workers, documented or undocumented, and they're getting away with it. People need work and wages, and the employers know this.
Part I Although I genuinely liked every lecture thus far, I have to say my favorite was the one dealing with LGBT issues and rights. This is a subject in which I am personally interested. It never ceases to amaze me how there are still so many people who believe being gay is a choice and has nothing to do with biology. Being gay is the same as being straight, and no one seems to believe being straight is a choice. People cannot choose to whom they are attracted. Certainly people can sit down and make a list of preferable qualities they want in a partner, but they cannot sit down and think about to whom they are going to be attracted. It is absolutely true an individual can choose to be in a same-sex or different-sex relationship, but this is only a lifestyle choice, not a biological one. Dr. Richards explained that engaging in a sexual activity with someone of the same sex does not make a person gay, and he’s completely right.
Part II As a straight woman, I could sleep with a woman, but I know I would not consider myself a lesbian; I am still straight. I have never met a woman to whom I am sexually attracted, and I certainly have not met a woman to with whom I could fall in love. I believe this is a similar experience to sleeping with a man to whom I am not attracted. It is possible, of course, to have sexual experiences with people with whom a person could never see themselves falling in love. I think this is key to being able to understand human sexuality and its complexities and fluidity. There are so many different kinds of relationships in existence: deep friendships, married straight couples, unmarried straight couples, couples in love, couples together for a green card, couples together for economic reasons, arranged marriages, deeply committed, casual etc. I just add gay couples to this list. It is just another form of relationship. I do not understand the big deal, at least to individuals who would not describe themselves as deeply religious. That is another important facet of the “gay debate.”
![[Avatar]](/images/avatar26.png){kind=avatar}
Contraption