The Grumpies take a stand

The following op-ed appears in the Observer-Eccentric newspapers. It is the first time that we have submitted a statement as a group.

Proposal 2: 'Two wrongs don't make a right'

We are the Grumpies, a group of ordinary citizens who write letters to the editor on public policy issues. We include men and women, workers and retirees, the devout and atheists. We disagree profoundly among ourselves on abortion, school prayer, immigration policy and just about every other issue except one: ballot Proposal 2, which would specifically ban race and gender preferences in public education, public contracting and public employment -- not affirmative action in general, as claimed by its opponents.

We support Proposal 2 for several reasons. First, we believe that the intent of the civil rights movement was to do away with granting and denying benefits on the basis of race or gender. Second, if minority applicants are less qualified for a merit-based benefit because of poor elementary and secondary schooling or because of socio-economic disadvantage, those deficits need to be fixed where they are found, not patched over by the benefit itself. Third and very simply, two wrongs don't make a right.

Proposal 2 is contested by a vast and well-organized opposition. One United Michigan is a slick, well-funded alliance whose primary undertaking is to confuse voters. It erroneously and consistently asserts that Proposal 2 would end all affirmative action programs. That is patently false.

Proposal 2 would have no effect on affirmative action programs in the private sector. In fact, it will impact only those government affirmative action programs that grant preferential treatment on the basis of race or gender. And in its current radio ad, OUM tastelessly exploits America's recent national tragedies by equating Proposal 2 to the 9/11 attacks on America and to Hurricane Katrina.

Another group working against Proposal 2 is By Any Means Necessary. BAMN is a militant group of national reach whose strategy of bullying, intimidation and failed lawsuits reveals its own lack of confidence in the arguments, such as they are, against the proposal.

In their attempt to further confuse voters, Proposal 2 opponents rely extensively on scare tactics. For example, they falsely assert that Proposal 2 would threaten breast cancer and cervical cancer screening programs. The language contained in the proposal coupled with the experience in the two states that have adopted similar measures prove this unfounded claim to be unequivocally false. They've also attempted to scare voters to believe that Proposal 2 would endanger girls and boys sports programs. The provisions set forth in Title lX would preclude Proposal 2 from having any effect on same-gender sports.

Through daily monitoring in the Detroit and Lansing areas, we've noticed a disturbing trend emerging over the past several weeks among print as well as broadcast media in their Proposal 2 coverage. The media repeatedly echo OUM's claim that Proposal 2 would ban affirmative action. Any voter is free to confirm that, by its own terms, Proposal 2 would ban the much more focused practice of granting race and gender preferences in public education, public contracting and public employment. Our repetition of this point is necessary in the present circumstances.

We recognize that the press is free to support or oppose current public policy issues; but we expect the press, as the principal broker in the marketplace of ideas, to give reasonable voice also to contrary views as well as to ensure that disputed issues are accurately framed. And so we challenge the press in covering Proposal 2 to return to established journalistic standards of accuracy, especially in distinguishing what Proposal 2 would ban from what it wouldn't. To say that it would ban "affirmative action" is a careless if not deliberate distortion of truth.

In the home stretch to the election, we Grumpies urge Proposal 2 supporters to write and speak out for balance and accuracy in media editorials, columns, articles, blogs and broadcasts. And on Election Day, despite fierce opposition, we trust our fellow citizens to cast their vote for justice in the only poll that counts. Yes on 2!

The Grumpies are: Ray Dubin, chairperson, of Farmington Hills; Paul Seibold, of Birmingham; Patricia Alspach, of Farmington Hills; Glynette Wolk, of Farmington Hills; Steve Sutton, of Farmington Hills; Bill Boitos, of Livonia; Marti Boitos, of Livonia; Dan Dubin, of Farmington Hills; Neil Goodbred, of Livonia; Zelda Rose, of Farmington Hills; George Haddad, of Franklin; Thomas Hunter, of Bloomfield Hills; John C. Broadwell, of West Bloomfield; Les Ostrander, of Livonia; and Robert Mack, of Romulus.

[Op-ed in the Observer-Eccentric newspapers. Published 10/26/2006.]