A five-legged dog

Proponents of affirmative action claim that quotas are illegal and not a part of the program. Reality claims otherwise. Just because the law bans quotas doesn’t mean they don’t exist. For example, the U.S. and Michigan constitutions clearly require that people be treated equally without consideration of race, color, and sex. However if this is a requirement, how do the courts manage to carve out an exception for granting preferential treatment? Obviously what is practiced is much different than what the law may say can be practiced.

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) sets numerical “goals” for minority hiring. According to the EEOC, a numerical goal is “a target number of qualified women and minorities hired and advanced within a given period of time through an Affirmative Action Program. A numerical goal is not a quota, as it may not be reached within the time frame.” The commission says since they are setting a goal, but not mandating it, it’s not a quota. Yet, the EEOC can sue an organization for discrimination if those numerical “goals” are not met. This type of logic reminds me of a question I have seen on one of those I.Q. “tests” that circulate on the Internet.

Question: If you call a tail a leg, how many legs does a dog have? Answer: Four. Calling a tail a leg doesn't make it a leg. Likewise, calling a quota a "goal" doesn't make it so.

[Letter to the Editor - The State News. Submitted 05/25/2006.]