A sensitive issue in my home country, the United States, is affirmative action.  Firstly, whether the government should mandate minority favoritism is a topic that is constantly under debate.  Some believe it is reasonable and fair for the government to set mandates on the hiring of minorities in order to ensure that percentages in the workforce mirror population distribution.  Others think that it is unethical for the government to involve itself in activities that favor people of any one race.  Furthermore, the debate transcends government involvement and simply discusses the idea of favoritism by companies towards minorities when hiring.

My stance on this ethical dilemma is that the government should have no involvement in setting restrictions on a company’s hiring procedures, but that a company that wants to show favoritism towards minorities when hiring is entitled to do so.  Social conservatives are unlikely to accept the notion of preferential treatment towards minorities; but fiscal conservatives who examine the issue closely should see that achieving a diverse workforce is similar to any other desirable capital venture.  A company that has a diverse workforce is better able and more prepared to succeed in the modern business climate. A company that chooses to ignore this should have every right to do so.  But forward thinking companies should also be allowed to diversify their workforce by using race as a factor in hiring.  This freedom to allow companies to choose on an individual level without government interaction fits the criteria of a truly capitalistic society.