Research Paper on:
Political Viewpoints and Affirmative Action

Unformatted Sample Text from the Research Paper:
in the would regarding controversial issues such as affirmative action. Affirmative action is a government mandated program that compels private and public institutions, to give places in employment or  schooling to minorities above white males. The reasoning is that if all things are equal, minorities in the country deserve to be given a boost. They deserve preference as long  as they are qualified. As one might expect, there are heated controversies about whether or not affirmative action fuels what is arguably something that occurs called reverse discrimination. In examining  this issue, the utilitarian, libertarian and liberal positions will be evaluated. First, in discussing utilitarianism, it appears that someone embracing such concepts would be against affirmative action. Central to Utilitarianism  is the premise that it is ideal to achieve the greatest happiness for the greatest number (McLeish 768). It is explained that a society where 50% of the populous is  ecstatic while 50% are miserable is less desirable than one where none is either (768). However, if one were to simply be concerned with the amount of happiness, in  a quantitative sense, such a consideration would not matter (768). In terms of affirmative action, it is obvious that the greater quantity of happiness would exist in a world  without affirmative action. Therefore, if a reasonable man can see the obvious quantitative weight on one side or another, without precise measurements, one may assume that happiness is measurable. In  this instance one can see that happiness is most effectively achieved in a society without affirmative action. While this is obvious in a fictitious example, one may draw the same  conclusion in a country such as the United States today. The libertarian position is likely similar to the that of the utilitarian in that the libertarian wants a minimalist government.