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I posted the following item on the Impact of The Elections on Diversity and Affirmative Action on my blog and I was wondering if you could read in over and let me know what you think.... If, in fact, you even think the elections will have any impact. Thanks Tracey You can read the post below or go to: http://301url.com/election-diversity I would love to have you feedback on the subject. You can post a comment by scrolling down, or going to: http://301url.com/election-diversity-comment Over the past few years, states that have overturned affirmative action have seen a marked drop of enrollment of minorities at state universities. Now, despite higher education and corporate support, Michigan has joined the anti-affirmative action band-wagon. With the percentage of minorities in our country growing, I think this signals an impending disaster for recruiting college educated, entry-level hires if nothing is done. I think (hope) with the Republicans losing the mid-term elections and a large number of Democrats taking office a few changes may take place: 1. Maybe Washington will come up with some solution that will replace affirmative action. Affirmative Active is a very flawed solution that unintentionally serves to alienate White males. However, contrary to popular rhetoric, it is a problem that still needs to be addressed. (I think this is unlikely to happen nationally, but California is stepping up to the plate. Perhaps other affected states will as well) 2. Democrats have pledged to create incentives designed to help the middle class with college costs. This will hopefully correct the legislation that made getting grants and student loans harder. Ultimately, if implemented the majority of the middle class from every ethnic group will be affected. 3. The Democrats have also promised to correct the legislation that took millions of dollars away from Head Start. This really impacted single women in the workplace hard. If corrected, we might see a rise in enrollment of women in continuing education, as well as some re-entering the workplace. 4. Maybe equal pay for women legislation might be back on the table, since the Republicans came into power, No one has even raised the issue, despite the fact that the numbers show it is a real problem. 5. The raising of the minimum wage may have a serious chance now. This could mean millions of Americans - including a large number of minorities might climb out of poverty. 6. I think Republicans, as a strategy to garner votes, often prey of on the insecurities and fears of the voters and run on hate platforms… hate of gays, hate of of minorities, hate of immigrants, hate of Arabs. The use of fear to gain consensus is a powerful political tool. Unfortunately, it usually works. Ultimately the social policies that benefit the majority (not just the targets of the hate message) are victims of the success of these campaigns. As the party in power, I think this allowed the Republican strategists to ensure that these subjects dominated what was covered in the media. Hopefully a change of agenda will change the subject of our national discussion and maybe these wedge issue fears of the electorate will be calmed. (Hopefully, at least not stimulated.) We all have our biases, but I think we have been going through a period in history where we have been encouraged to embrace our biases. My wish is that words like diversity and inclusion stop being dirty words. This strategy has also served to allow many Americans to believe that bias and discrimination are a thing of the past and a dead issue, despite compelling evidence to the contrary. Hopefully this phase in our history will loose steam and Americans will continue with the positive efforts they made in the past. This is just my wish list doesn't mean anything will change. Tracey de Morsella The Multicultural Advantage Phone: 305-407-3803 Email: tdemorsella AT multiculturaladvantage.com Publisher of The Diversity Recruitment Advertising Toolkit http://www.multiculturaladvantage.com/store/ Diversity Staffing Center http://www.multiculturaladvantage.com/recruit/ View The Diversity Advantage Blog at: http://www.multiculturaladvantage.net/diversity/