[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 57 (Tuesday, March 28, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E706]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                         ENDING DISCRIMINATION

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                            HON. RON PACKARD

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, March 28, 1995
  Mr. PACKARD. Mr. Speaker, one does not solve discrimination with 
discrimination. Affirmative action represents nothing more than a 
Government-designed racial spoils system. Equal treatment, not 
preferential treatment, should be the standard. Equal opportunity, not 
equal results, must be the goal.
  For the past 30 years, Government quotas and guidelines have promoted 
a society that treats some Americans differently from others. 
Government dictates how varying ethnic groups will divvy up jobs, 
promotions, contracts, and college admissions. Affirmative action 
promotes opportunity based on race and creed not merit. This premise 
promotes the false idea that minorities cannot compete without special 
favors. Simply put, it implies inferiority.
  Affirmative action pits group against group, stirring envy and 
resentment while eroding the value of individual worth. You do not 
raise yourself up by holding others down. Government-imposed favoritism 
demeans the genuine achievements of those it is supposed to help.
  Mr. Speaker, in the twisted game of affirmative action, quantity 
takes precedence over quality allowing discrimination to pose under the 
guise of fairness. We must not confuse equal opportunity with equal 
results any longer. The more equal the opportunity the more diverse the 
results. It is time to end affirmative action. We need to promote fair 
competition in our society, not Government quotas and favoritism.


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