Replies

Your post is an excellent example of why people should be judged as individuals.

But using your green and purple example, what should we do if someone insists that there cannot possibly be any average IQ difference between greens and purples, asserting that intelligence is cultural and not genetic. They then demand that "X" number of purples be denied college admission, employment, or whatever, even though they qualified, in order that greens be represented by quota in all those areas? Do we simply capitulate to the demand, or do we say that since greens on average scored 10% lower than purples, greens will be represented in some areas at less than their population percentages?

In other words, do we judge people as individuals or do we operate on the group assumption that any difference between races is cultural and any difference in performance must be due to a bad dose of negative culture, so to compensate we give each race a quota in each area of human endeavor?

In other words, do we judge people as individuals or do we operate on the group assumption that any difference between races is cultural and any difference in performance must be due to a bad dose of negative culture, so to compensate we give each race a quota in each area of human endeavor?

You went exactly to where my thoughts were at. We, as conservatives, see human beings as individuals with equal rights under the law. Socially, it's very important to treat every individual on their own merits and not as a predetermined indentity with a group. The identity politics of the left and its use for racial quotas or racial guilt and victimhood is no different than the "racism" it purports to correct.

Do we simply capitulate to the demand, or do we say that since greens on average scored 10% lower than purples, greens will be represented in some areas at less than their population percentages?

I think there is truth to the cultural disadvantage of certain groups (on average). I don't think this contributes to absolute intelligence but I do think it is borne out in poor performance in schools. The difference in school performance between different racial groups is much greater than the difference on intelligence tests between these same groups. The proposed remedy, which is to enhance opportunity at the expense of successful individuals is wrong because it's based on incorrect assumptions. One is that poor performance is simply a problem of opportunity. Another is the typical leftist assumption that everything is a zero sum game.