Should Disabled Veterans Get Preferential Treatment over Better Essay Example for Free

Should Disabled Veterans Get Preferential Treatment over Better Essay Affirmative Action efforts were started in 1964 to end the long history of overlooking qualified people of color and women from higher education. Affirmative Action sets standards for a business or office of admissions, so that a white man does not have the upper hand over an equally or greater educated minority’s, female or disabled veteran. The initial way the government tried to justify Affirmative Action was to develop a human resource approach: first identifying the problem, which is racism, sexism and handicapped stereo typing then establishing the solution. The intent of the Disabled Veterans Affirmative Action Program (DVAAP) is to help cut down on discrimination in the work place, despite the fact that some believe that (DVAAP) is a form of reverse discrimination. In contrast, the first goal of (DVAAP) was to help disabled veterans across the nation receive the entitlements they deserve when they apply for employment in the Federal Government. I believe that Charles J.  Muhl was trying to say that the Affirmative Action techniques have the advantage of not only persuading employers not to discriminate when hiring or accepting, but to expand employment and educational opportunities for groups that might be just as deserving but less fortunate. Therefore the (DVAAP) is legitimate because it does reduce discrimination in the work place and related areas such as various jobs on Government Installations and Federal Offices. In the end, it should in no way be abolished. A California Superior Court had upheld the states use of 3 affirmative action programs but struck down 2 of them owned by minorities, woman and disabled veterans. The program that the Superior Court upheld was intended to remedy discrimination and according to proposition 209 there was no discrimination towards minorities or disabled veterans. Those two programs mentioned nothing about minorities or disadvantaged veterans only disadvantaged businesses. I feel that the Superior Court rejected the states laws because it seemed like they felt it was reverse discrimination and unconstitutional. Affirmative action is becoming highly controversial. Right now Proposition 209, in California, which bans all programs involving race and sex preferences run by the state, has passed but it will not be put into total action due to some questions of constitutionality. But one must ask themselves â€Å"Is the DVAAP a new form of Affirmative Action? † The DVAAP has employed about 93,000 disabled veterans during 2005. Without programs like this, there would have been about 93,000 unemployed veterans’ just collecting disability and unemployment, resulting in more tax money being spent on disabled veterans. With this system they are able to make a valued contribution to society and not become a financial burden on the rest of the economy. Mark Rosenbaum of the Southern California Branch of the American Civil Liberties Union declared an argument. Proposition 209 should be declared unconstitutional because it singles out women and minorities at a time when discrimination still exists, Now let just think for a minute, How many of these Disabled Veterans are women or minorities? Also take into consideration if you add some sort of combat wound to that Veteran, what would you have without the help of the (DVAAP)? I will tell you. People would look at those brave Veterans that put there lives on the line and call them a â€Å"BUM† These people are not bums, they are fallen heroes that need help. Discrimination does still exist in our not so perfect world, and so far various forms of Affirmative Action is our only solution; so why is California trying so hard to put an end to it? Abolishing Affirmative Action is not the answer. President Clinton spoke out in his speech for National Archives: Let me be clear: Affirmative Action has been good for the United States we should have a simple slogan: Mend it, but dont bend it. The problem with the Affirmative Action debate could be that those arguing for it do a poor job defending their position. Due to the fact that Affirmative Action has been in place for more than a generation, critics have lost sight of how the job market and higher education looks without Affirmative Actions stabilizing effects. They could possibly make a stronger stance if they pointed out that there are thousands of injured veterans (woman and minorities) in the current ongoing war trying to readjust back to civilian life. They are also highly qualified for many forms of employment. (Section 4214(a)(1) of the title 38, United States Code) Many critics that were not hired for jobs that they felt that they deserved seem to think that Affirmative Action is a cleverly disguised form of racism and ineffective, but taking a look at what happens when there is no Affirmative Action, such as in court case’s around the United States reverse discrimination suit. Some courts are ruling to ban the race card, gender card and disabled veterans card when applying for government jobs. I would like to point out The whole reason that there are handicapped preferences is that the handicapped do not meet the standards applied to others, if they were require that they meet the standards then they would not have gotten in. I have a handy capped person that works with me and when I asked him how did he get his job, he told me I clearly got in through an Affirmative Action program, and I dont apologize for it Im proud of it. † It got me in, but it didnt get me out, didnt take the bar exam for me, didnt pass the two hundred and eighty five or so pieces of legislation Ive authored. He is a perfect example of Affirmative Action, a handicapped minority getting the chance to prove himself. Affirmative Action did not get him where he is today it just simply got his foot in the door. Affirmative Action gave him a chance he would not have gotten if Affirmative Action did not exist. Although sad, but true we do not live in a perfect, color-blind country. I believe It is simply wrong to play politics with the issue of Affirmative Action and divide our country at a time when, if we really want to change things, we have to be united. I have had experience with Affirmative Action, nearly twenty years of it now, and I know it works. In conclusion, Affirmative Action, just as it started, is trying to create unity within the real world, which is not perfect and there is lots of handicapped stereo typing. So why are we still asking the question of why we are using various forms of Affirmative Action? Proven that it abolishing Affirmative Action would be a negative effect to the work place, why should we go back to the days of handicapped stereo typing, why not move forward still some until we can create unity. We should seek not just equality as a right and a theory, but equality as a result. Maybe the world hasnt exactly found equality as a result, but with the Disabled Veterans Affirmative Action Program, the world is a lot closer to equality than without it.