Are you OK with discrimination?

[BeerMoney]

I was thinking today about the "Don't ask don't tell" policy our military adapted.. And then I got to thinking about the fact that the military discriminates based on age, and probably other things as well.

What if industry decided to adopt such practices? Would you be ok with it?

The reason I think it is interesting because I kind of wonder where capitalism would go with such a hiring process.

[-Skeme-]

How does the military discriminate age?

[pshreck]

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And then I got to thinking about the fact that the military discriminates based on age


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Looks like you weren't thinking too much.

[Voltron87]

there is a difference between discrimination based on something which actually matters, like age, since there is an age where people make better soldiers than others, and something which doesnt matter, like sexual orientation, which doesnt affect whether youre a good soldier.

[BeerMoney]

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How does the military discriminate age?

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For example, you can't go through ROTC after a certain age.. If you want to be a pilot, you have to be below a certain age, etc..

[Tron]

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How does the military discriminate age?

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For example, you can't go through ROTC after a certain age.. If you want to be a pilot, you have to be below a certain age, etc..

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So what you're saying is that they discriminate based upon ability, right?

[partygirluk]

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The reason I think it is interesting because I kind of wonder where capitalism would go with such a hiring process.

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This is an interesting point. Some libertarians argue against anti-discrimination laws on the basis that the market will weed out discriminators. e.g. 2 competing firms, 1 won't hire women, 1 will - the firm that chooses its labour from twice as big a pool will be more successful, the discriminators will go out of business ---------> discrimination will never happen in a capitalist economy.

[BeerMoney]

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there is a difference between discrimination based on something which actually matters, like age, since there is an age where people make better soldiers than others,

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This is an ok argument if you were talking about hiring 500 people once, but in America we try to judge people on an individual basis. I'm in better shape than 90% of 20 year olds, and there are people 10 years older than me that are in better shape. On a whole, 20 year olds are in the best shape, but you can't discriminate based on such matters. Just like you can't hire someone just because they're asian on the assumption they're good at math based on the fact that Asians have higher SAT math scores than others.

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and something which doesnt matter, like sexual orientation, which doesnt affect whether youre a good soldier.

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Well, look, I'm not saying its right. I'm just saying it exists, and you're really missing the point.

[pshreck]

Good point. I think discrimination is fading in corporate America as more and more people realize it is pretty ridiculous to assume women are less capable.

[BeerMoney]

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The reason I think it is interesting because I kind of wonder where capitalism would go with such a hiring process.

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This is an interesting point. Some libertarians argue against anti-discrimination laws on the basis that the market will weed out discriminators. e.g. 2 competing firms, 1 won't hire women, 1 will - the firm that chooses its labour from twice as big a pool will be more successful, the discriminators will go out of business ---------> discrimination will never happen in a capitalist economy.

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This is exactly what I'm getting at.. Thank you PartyGirlUK

[BeerMoney]

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How does the military discriminate age?

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For example, you can't go through ROTC after a certain age.. If you want to be a pilot, you have to be below a certain age, etc..

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So what you're saying is that they discriminate based upon ability, right?

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HUH????????? Did you read my post?

[Voltron87]

I really don't see what your point is.

[pshreck]

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HUH????????? Did you read my post?

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I think you are being the confusing one here. It is ok to start conversation without making any points that someone can understand, but don't act like we should know what you are talking about.

[BeerMoney]

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I really don't see what your point is.

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Did you read partygirl's?

[Tron]

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How does the military discriminate age?

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For example, you can't go through ROTC after a certain age.. If you want to be a pilot, you have to be below a certain age, etc..

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So what you're saying is that they discriminate based upon ability, right?

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HUH????????? Did you read my post?

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Yeah, I did, and it's a simple fact that as age increases reflexes decrease. So when the Air Force turns away a pilot because they're too old, that's because of their diminished ability.

[BeerMoney]

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How does the military discriminate age?

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For example, you can't go through ROTC after a certain age.. If you want to be a pilot, you have to be below a certain age, etc..

[/ QUOTE ]

So what you're saying is that they discriminate based upon ability, right?

[/ QUOTE ]

HUH????????? Did you read my post?

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Yeah, I did, and it's a simple fact that as age increases reflexes decrease. So when the Air Force turns away a pilot because they're too old, that's because of their diminished ability.

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Dude, you can't go through ROTC after a certain age. You can't assume all older people have slower reflexes. What about the 35 year olds that are currently pilots in the air force now?

You really don't understand discrimination.

[Tron]

I'm afraid I can no longer participate in this thread.

[fimbulwinter]

legislating equal outcomes is just another form of socialism.

we should let the invisible hand sort it out, not self-interested, unintelligent, do-gooder ideologues.

fim