o special preferences given to people because of race, creed, color or national origin. Society should try to live up to Martin Luther King Jr.'s dream of leaving people to be judged solely on character. Then and only then will the issues of race and gender disappear. Everyone has an opportunity to advance in this country; one just has to take the initiative and have the desire to succeed. Argument Outline Thesis: The affirmative action system originally may have had a just intent, but I sincerely believe it has been counterproductive in practice. I: Causes reverse discrimination A. Policies judge people solely on skin color and gender B. White males are not figured into the equation C. Race and gender-based preferences II: Promotes hiring of less skilled workers and admission of unqualified students to colleges and universities. A. Hiring and school admissions based on race B. Existing quotas III: Places a stigma on groups that receive preferential treatment A. An employer hires a minority for a position based on merit, not preference B. Decrease the stigma by recruiting minorities, but not absolutely giving preferential treatment. IV: Focuses on ethnic background and gender A. Needs to focus on economics (money) B. Should focus on equality in quality of our public schools up to the high school level....
