Public work force should mirror public

December 16, 2007 07:48 pm

— Our public work force should mirror the racial, ethnic and gender makeup of our state.
For that reason, voters, if it comes to a vote, should defeat an initiative petition to end state affirmative action programs.
Last week, a group filed thousands of signatures and a petition initiative called the Oklahoma Civil Rights Initiative with the secretary of state. The initiative proposes to prohibit discriminating against or granting preferences to any individual or group on the basis of race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin in public employment, education or contracting by the state or any of its agencies, institutions or subdivisions.
The group said it believed it gathered the 138,970 signatures required to get the proposal on the ballot, possibly as early as next November’s general election.
Oklahoma is not the only state seeking to end affirmative action programs. Advocates in four other states are trying to get it on their ballots, as well, through an effort by the American Civil Rights Institute, which is led by California businessman Ward Connerly.
Public contracts should not be tied to affirmative action. Public contracts should be granted to groups that provide the best services or products at the best price.

Online
To find out more about the Oklahoma Civil Rights Initiative, Click Here

But when it comes to employment within our state agencies and offices, our state should seek to give opportunities to those groups that, for one reason or another, are disadvantaged or in the minority.
Public employment is not just for one race, cultural group or gender.
Public employment should be balanced, and the balance should reflect the greater community at large. That balance always has been attained best by legal protections, and there is no reason to remove those programs in this state.