Arkansas Senate panel passes bill to prohibit discrimination; citizens say it would do the opposite

https://arkansasadvocate.com/2025/01/28/arkansas-senate-panel-passes-bill-to-prohibit-discrimination-citizens-say-it-would-do-the-opposite/

created by SpaceElevatorMusic on 29/01/2025 at 19:02 UTC

40 upvotes, 4 top-level comments (showing 4)

Comments

Comment by Containerstorejams at 30/01/2025 at 16:20 UTC

32 upvotes, 3 direct replies

They are mirroring the new federal direction given to the newly de-fanged OFCCP and (potentially illegally manipulated) bipartisan EEOC board. (i.e. the firing of two democratic board members, one of whom Trump himself previously appointed) The language there is now all about "merit-based."

The thing is, these agencies policies were already focused on being merit-based, that has always been the case. Trump and his people completely misunderstand these agencies and their work. The administration (Federal and State of AR) I believe want to open it up so white men can cry discrimination, but I am almost certain that this will backfire as white men are not now and have never been discriminated against in any impactful way.

I believe the demographic and statistical filings still required by these agencies will show this to be true, and when their big dogwhistle fishing expedition comes up empty they will make excuses, or in a worst case scenario possibly try to go after Title 7 itself (which would be a political live hand grenade) so they can fully enshrine racial and gender discrimination without pesky facts or numbers. Hopefully this nonsense can all be headed off by a better administration coming in.

Comment by mcgunner1966 at 31/01/2025 at 00:23 UTC

10 upvotes, 0 direct replies

I agree. As a white male I have never felt discriminated against. In my 35 year career I have dominated my competition. At Hendrix college, engineering school and business ownership. Never once did I get told no (regardless of skin color).