Affirmative Reaction - On the last post, I commended to your attention the fact that the recent mid-term elections represented a reaffirmation of genuine conservatism. As we process the fallout from November 7th, it is increasingly clear that voters spoke in favor of classically right-wing positions, and rejected ersatz Republicanism. To wit, seven more states rejected gay marriage. In addition, Arizonans expressed their desire that English be the official language of their state. And even in the newly "Democratized" Congress, the majority of Representatives and Senators-elect ran as centrists or conservatives.

But perhaps the most direct evidence speaking to the resilience of conservatism is the rejection of affirmative action by voters in Michigan. In one of the most azure states in the union, Proposal 2 - otherwise known as the Michigan Civil Rights Initiative (MCRI) - was affirmed by a 58% to 42% margin, despite the fact that supporters of the measure were outspent by at least 2 to 1. The MCRI will outlaw giving preferential treatment to individuals based on race, gender, color, ethnicity or national origin for public employment or education. Opponents say the proposition will make it difficult to maintain "diversity" on college campuses and in the workplace. For their part, supporters posit that the MCRI will make Michigan a place of equal opportunity - if not equal results - for all.

In subsequent posts, we will examine the underlying assumptions that make affirmative action so problematic from a practical standpoint. As we will see, it has proven to be a net negative for the supposed beneficiaries in particular and for society at large.