Quote:
Originally posted by Hillbillie
>>There are numerous regulations governing what companies can and cannot do<<
This is correct, and most of them are in place for a good reason: they prevent coercion. Affirmative action laws are not in place to prevent cooercion, as you continue to say:
>>Positive discrimination whether in the form of quotas or ethnic specific grants is there to break this cycle.<<
The part we disagree on, Clyde--you being a devout liberal and me being a devout libertarian--is government's role in breaking this cycle.
The sole role of government (force) in a free society, Clyde, is to prevent the initiation of force: coercion. The only acceptable forms of government (force) in a free society are defensive force and retaliatory force (a.k.a. justice).
If I were to rob you, I have initiated force against you--I have infringed apon your rights. Government can step in and take action against me using retaliatory force (justice), and this would be acceptable in a free society.
However, if you come to me asking for work at my PRIVATE organization/company/institution and I refuse to enter into a mutual contract with you (hire you), for whatever reason, I have not initiated force against you--I have not infringed on your rights. (Remember, it is not your right to compel others to provide your living.) Government, in a free society, has no business stepping in and taking action against me.
So...if you want to debate whether we live in a socialist society or a free society, fine. I'd personally rather live in a free society than a socialist one.