Spring Break
Greater equality needed
Josh Levinson
Issue date: 2/17/05 Section: Commentary
I'm often told that I offer too many critiques and too few solutions. So this week, instead of giving everyone the standard "I hate kids that wear Abercrombie and platinum blonde girls" routine, I thought I'd take a look at what I view to be a very serious and viable solution to the equality of opportunity. One need only look at our society to see that equality of opportunity does not exist across ethnic and religious backgrounds. Justice for an African American is not the same as justice for a Caucasian.
Yet, affirmative action raises many serious moral questions. For instance, when does race-based policy make sense? If we give someone a greater opportunity simply for being African American, then what about a white man that grew up in the same run-down neighborhood with the same poor public schools? Or if we're going to give special treatments to some minorities, should we handicap Asian Americans for making more money than Caucasians?
Affirmative action, however, does not get to the root of the problem. Instead, it puts a fresh coat of paint on a crumbling foundation. We must focus on giving more opportunities from the ground up. If we take away the lucrative career path of crime and drug dealing, what choice will someone have but to attempt to get their education?
In fact, I am advocating the complete decriminalization, legalization and regulation of all controlled substances. The war on drugs has been a spectacular failure on all fronts and the cost exceeds any benefit we may obtain. Perhaps instead of costing us money, drug abuse, which at its heart is a health issue and not a criminal one, could be a boon for our economy.
The legalization and regulation of drugs not only lets us tax these substances and bring in increased revenue, but it helps remove non-violent criminals from prison and reintegrate them back into the population. Furthermore, no longer will we allow dirty needles to spread disease- we will help drug addicts deal with their problems instead of throwing them away as useless members of society.
Yet, affirmative action raises many serious moral questions. For instance, when does race-based policy make sense? If we give someone a greater opportunity simply for being African American, then what about a white man that grew up in the same run-down neighborhood with the same poor public schools? Or if we're going to give special treatments to some minorities, should we handicap Asian Americans for making more money than Caucasians?
Affirmative action, however, does not get to the root of the problem. Instead, it puts a fresh coat of paint on a crumbling foundation. We must focus on giving more opportunities from the ground up. If we take away the lucrative career path of crime and drug dealing, what choice will someone have but to attempt to get their education?
In fact, I am advocating the complete decriminalization, legalization and regulation of all controlled substances. The war on drugs has been a spectacular failure on all fronts and the cost exceeds any benefit we may obtain. Perhaps instead of costing us money, drug abuse, which at its heart is a health issue and not a criminal one, could be a boon for our economy.
The legalization and regulation of drugs not only lets us tax these substances and bring in increased revenue, but it helps remove non-violent criminals from prison and reintegrate them back into the population. Furthermore, no longer will we allow dirty needles to spread disease- we will help drug addicts deal with their problems instead of throwing them away as useless members of society.