Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/17/84; site mhuxr.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxr!mfs
From: mfs@mhuxr.UUCP (SIMON)
Newsgroups: net.women,net.politics
Subject: Re: Discrimination and AA
Message-ID: <375@mhuxr.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 9-Jul-85 21:36:35 EDT
Article-I.D.: mhuxr.375
Posted: Tue Jul  9 21:36:35 1985
Date-Received: Thu, 11-Jul-85 07:21:02 EDT
References: <483@gargoyle.UChicago.UUCP>, <189@fear.UUCP> <680@sphinx.UChicago.UUCP> <201@fear.UUCP> <364@mhuxr.UUCP> <336@kontron.UUCP>
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories, Murray Hill
Lines: 34
Xref: watmath net.women:6318 net.politics:9842

> You are confusing affirmative action, where the government 
> actively takes steps, with eliminating discriminatory practices by the
> government.
It is the responsibility of democratic government to take action to
uphold the law. Equal Opportunity is the law. Employers have demnstrated that
they will not (in general) abide by the law. Government has no choice than
to take steps to get the law enforced.

> Bigots are not favored by the system...
> Some of the interference with the free market in this country has been
> done *for the purpose of protecting bigots*.
> 
These two sentences contradict each other. Please elaborate.

> If the entire country is bigoted, and yet you want the country to stop 
> bigotry, then you obviously are opposed to democracy. 

In a democracy, every group has a share of political power. Bigots
would have it that certain groups have no political power, or limited
political power. That is the true oposition to democracy.
> 
> Mr. Plamondon is saying that if the
> bigots are in the minority, you can achieve a discrimination-free society
> by private action.  If the bigots are in the majority, you need a 
> dictatorship to achieve your goals.

And I argue that  where bigots are favored, private action will not
work. You and Robert Plamondon seem to assume equal shares of power
between the bigoted priviledged and the discriminated agains others.
That is incorrect by any measure. Government, which exists in this country
to ensure that eall citizens receive eual protection under
the law, MUST be an equalizing presence.

Marcel Simomn