Affirmative Action & Diversity Goals Solution: How About Cap And Trade?

How can we reconcile affirmative action and diversity goals in our society without sacrificing meritocracy and efficiency? Actually we can have both ways with a cap and trade system. Pollution problems have been addressed by polluters buying credits from non-polluters.For example, a Google spokesman was on the PBS News Hour last night. He was owning up to Google's past which didn't include enough diversity in the ranks. There were not enough women and minorities. The firm was made up mostly of white males. He cited a recent MIT study which showed that a more diverse employment results in higher profits. One wonders if Google is making the right choice in changing directions going forward. After all they are one of the most successful companies of all time by pursuing their narrow merit based hiring . Why change now? Maybe they have succumbed to the PC harpies.Whatever.Suppose Google had an alternative to its lack of diversity without actually being more diverse?We all know Congress is filled with all the diversity that no one really wanted or needed. But that's the nature of mature democracies. Odd balls rise up as more and more of them reach voting age. What if Google could send a check to Congress in lieu of hiring some one they really didn't want? That would be a win -win. Because we know that Congress wants a check more than it wants diversity.

Barack Obama: He's Plural Man

America is nothing if not diverse. And presidential contender Barack Obama may have the home team advantage of diverse identity politics.

Mr. Obama is 1/2 black and 1/2 white which reflects the increasing interracial relationships in the U.S.. He was born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii which gives him Pacific Islanders credentials. He spent part of his youth living in Indonesia which gives him Asian bona fides. His religious backround includes an estranged Muslim father who turned atheist and a Christian mother. That pretty much covers most religious persuasions. His father left Barack and his mother so Barack was raised in a single parent household niche. Mr. Obama studied law at Harvard, was a teacher, served as an Illinois State Senator and is currently a U.S. Senator representing Illinois. He's married and father, wrote 2 books and " inhaled".

So what kind of policies does he think will suit America's diversity? Will he champion affirmative action and a loose immigration policy? Both of those policies are under fire. But his ad hoc constituency largely springs from that backround. I think he will get the democratic nomination because of his wit and charm But what intellectual capability he has is yet to be revealed.