Its pretty clear that you think underrepresented students are undeserving of such a scholarship, but that's perhaps a completely seperate issue.
You also seem to forget (or never knew) that Affirmative Action is mandated by law, and that it is intended to "correct the effocts of past and present discrimination" (Executive Order Executive order 11375, under the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment).
Next time, check your facts.

>>People don't pick their genes, but if people were able to, a lot more would pick an ethnicity that allowed them scholarships without action.<<

So, all those white (and non-white) upper class kids who are lucky enough to be born into a family that can pay for college well enough so they don't have to work while going to school. They seem just as undeserving to me. Yet no one complains about their unearned benefits.

white privilege, a social relation
1. a. A right, advantage, or immunity granted to or enjoyed by white persons beyond the common advantage of all others; an exemption in many particular cases from certain burdens or liabilities.
b. A special advantage or benefit of white persons; with reference to divine dispensations, natural advantages, gifts of fortune, genetic endowments, social relations, etc.
2. A privileged position; the possession of an advantage white persons enjoy over non--white persons.
3. a. The special right or immunity attaching to white persons as a social relation; prerogative.
b. display of white privilege, a social expression of a white person or persons demanding to be treated as a member or members of the socially privileged class.
4. a. To invest white persons with a privilege or privileges; to grant to white persons a particular right or immunity; to benefit or favor specially white persons; to invest white persons with special honorable distinctions.
b. To avail oneself of a privilege owing to one as a white person.
5. To authorize or license of white person or persons what is forbidden or wrong for non--whites; to justify, excuse.
6. To give to white persons special freedom or immunity from some liability or burden to which non--white persons are subject; to exempt.

"People don't pick their genes, but if people were able to, a lot more would pick an ethnicity that allowed them scholarships without action."

That has got to be the single stupidest comment ever made in this paper (an accomplishment in itself). To suggest that a person would choose to face the discrimination that non-whites in this country face just to get a measly scholarship shows that you don't have a clue and forfeits your right to even comment on this issue.

Affirmative action is the biggest step in making whites a "minority" in this country. Nowadays, minorities are actually the privileged ones.

Affirmative action would make more sense if it were partly based on econmic need. What pisses some whites off is that rich minorities get scholarships. If this were changed most reasonable people would have less problem with it. Seeing someone who is a minority and whose parents are loaded getting a free ride while your working class family doesn't is a wuick road to tension and animosity.

I agree -- affirmative action should be based SOLELY on economic factors. Although I rarely agree with Justice Thomas, his opinions of AA are very telling. As an educated and extremly successful black man he has felt as though everywhere he went people thought he got there becuase of AA, not because of his own merits. We need to get the race factor out of AA and focus it on actual need. People who are the first in their family to attend college, people who come from poor families -- not just someone based on their race.

If any of the lefty posters want to see real discrimination based on race/ethnicity, then move to Europe, Asia or Africa. Stop trying to find a way to create a victim class and start admitting that poor people in general don't have a good shot at attending a school like UW. Afirmative Action is discrimination. It is a sad day when we visit the punishment on the child for the sins of the father. In addition, if this is such a great program then why are their as many poor minority kids in the inner city as when the idea first popped up. Oh I forgot the left wants to be graded on the effort and intent never on the result.

100 years from now will the United States need Affirmative Action? No as it doesn't need it now. I have zero guilt over slavery, segregation or discrimination based on race. Why? because I have never participated in the practice of any of these wrongs. Nor have most the minority 18 year olds applying to the UW.

I generally don't agree with gen ed requirments, but in this case I believe that more rural white kids who come to madison should take some ethnic studies classes so they can at least attempt to find out what it's like to not live in a 100% white town of red necks and republicans.

"So, all those white (and non-white) upper class kids who are lucky enough to be born into a family that can pay for college well enough so they don't have to work while going to school. They seem just as undeserving to me. Yet no one complains about their unearned benefits."

Ah, so you're just jealous because you were born into a poor family where your parents couldn't pay for your education. Well, blame your parents, kid. It's not the fault of some upper-middle-class families that your parents had kids they couldn't afford. And if yoy're going to be a racist about it, then why should anyone even care about you? Screw ya, non-white racist scum!

"So, all those white (and non-white) upper class kids who are lucky enough to be born into a family that can pay for college well enough so they don't have to work while going to school. They seem just as undeserving to me."

Aw, poor black boy has to make a racist pig of himself to get a point across. Okay fine, to hell with affirmative action and helping minorities. White pride is my mantra from now on.

White privilege? Yeah, that got the Irish, Italians, Poles, Jews, etc. real far didn't it? I have a better definition: colored excuses: the ability to blame all of one's woes on the fact that they are not white.

"...I believe that more rural white kids who come to madison should take some ethnic studies classes so they can at least attempt to find out what it's like to not live in a 100% white town of red necks and republicans."

A lot of us aren't rednecks and Republicans, but if you insist on categorizing us as such, then why the hell should we care about your kind? As far as you're concerned, EVERY white person born and raised in a small town is a redneck and Republican. What a narrow mind! Good luck in the real world, because that's about all you got going for you. Stupid Madison liberals-always got their heads stuck up their bums, they can't see how ignorant they really are.

"So, all those white (and non-white) upper class kids who are lucky enough to be born into a family that can pay for college well enough so they don't have to work while going to school. They seem just as undeserving to me. Yet no one complains about their unearned benefits."

I call BS. Anybody with a job can get PLUS loans.

"You also seem to forget (or never knew) that Affirmative Action is mandated by law, and that it is intended to "correct the effocts of past and present discrimination""

Next they'll say that this law is wrong and it should be changed... sound familiar?

"I call BS. Anybody with a job can get PLUS loans."

So then they can spend the rest of their life indebted to someone else?

>>Ah, so you're just jealous because you were born into a poor family where your parents couldn't pay for your education. Well, blame your parents, kid. It's not the fault of some upper-middle-class families that your parents had kids they couldn't afford. And if yoy're going to be a racist about it, then why should anyone even care about you? Screw ya, non-white racist scum!>Aw, poor black boy has to make a racist pig of himself to get a point across. Okay fine, to hell with affirmative action and helping minorities. White pride is my mantra from now on.>I call BS. Anybody with a job can get PLUS loans.<<

Thankfully, many, though certainly not all people who don't come from wealthy families are able to get loands. My real point, however, was that if you're wealthy, you'll have an easier time paying for college and getting ahead, which is not merit based any more that race based affirmative action.

"You also seem to forget (or never knew) that Affirmative Action is mandated by law, and that it is intended to 'correct the effects of past and present discrimination'"

That is incorrect. "Affirmative Action" as mandated through Executive Order 11246 is:

The contractor will take affirmative action to ensure that applicants are employed, and that employees are treated during employment, without regard to their race, creed, color, or national origin. (emphasis added)

How do you get that it is intended to correct the effects of past and present discrimination? Such stunning ignorance!

My "stunning ignorance" is based on the fact that in the amended order, Executive Order 11375, claims "to correct the effects
of past and present discrimination" through Affirmative Action.
My mistake for citing the amendment instead of the original order.