Benefits and Losses (Ann Speaking)
						MAIN PATH: Fred
				Fred	Vera

No. I agree that the white applicant who is denied a job (and does not get a similar job in a fairly short time) loses something. But don't get confused about what I'm saying. I'm NOT saying that everyone, or even most people, benefit. I AM saying that the benefits outweigh the losses. That's different. Here's how it works. Let's assume that for every black person given a job by a strong affirmative action program there is a white person who does not get that job. That's a wash. But in the black population there is a multiplier effect generated by the role models and increased demand for black employees. There is no counterpart to that on the white side. As a result, the benefits outweigh the losses.

There are also benefits that reach beyond the black community, although they are not a necessary part of my argument. For example, if affirmative action reduces black unemployment --especially among the poor and chronically unemployed-- the benefits for all of us could be significant.

I also think it would reduce racial animosities because blacks would believe they had a real chance at success. Furthermore, employment is the best thing in the world for fighting crime. Crime and all the costs related to it would be reduced. And employment would also reduce dependence on welfare. Conservatives should regard both of those results as benefits to the taxpayer.

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