Proposal 2 and Its Short Falls 
In recent weeks there has been a buzz about Michigans Proposal 2. Those of you who are unaware of what Proposal 2 entails here is a short explanation. The proposed constitutional amendment would: 
Ban public institutions from using affirmative action programs that give preferential treatment to groups or individuals based on their race, gender, color, ethnicity, or national origin for public employment, education or contracting purposes. Public institutions affected by the proposal include state government, local governments, public colleges and universities, community colleges and school districts. 
Prohibit public institutions from discriminating against groups or individuals due to their gender, ethnicity, race, color or national origin. 
I give my support to Proposal 2 even though it will affect me in the future. I am of Native American decent and benefit from the programs that Prop. 2 looks to eliminate. Some may ask why I want to eliminate programs that assist me. Well heres the short answer, my whole life it has been assumed that everything thing I have got was given to me not earned. I was raised to believe that if you want something it must be earned. I believe that affirmative actions further handicaps minorities and women by making us believe that something is owed to us. Instead of working to get ahead in todays world most believe it should be given to them. 
I hope one day that every race and gender is on an equal playing field. I do not believe this will be possible as long as programs exist that give an advantage to any one group of people. 
My only problem with this proposal is I do not believe it has a wide enough scope. Currently I am set to enter Lake States Police Academy. In order to enter and graduate from this academy I have to pass a Physical Fitness test. I have no problem with this, except that the females going through the same program have much lower fitness standards then the males. I see this as giving an advantage to females. If we are expected to do the same job at the same pay then we should pass the same tests. This is just one example of programs that will continue to exist giving advantages to a group of people even after Proposal 2 is passed. 
In closing, if we are looking to eliminate programs or standards that give assistants to some and not all then lets do it with all programs not just the few that Proposal 2 covers. Thank you for your time and consideration in this matter 
Anthony J. Carrick
