Because there is a deep philosophical divide in American thinking about race. Today's Conservatives believe the colorblind principle of merit is the fairest way to treat individuals. Today's Liberals take the view that merit is unfair to minorities, who must be given an advantage in the present to make up for the discrimination they suffered in the past. This view has the support of many of America's institutions--governments, corporations and philanthropic organizations--since it gives them a politically correct way to atone for the unfairness of yesterday. But that is a dangerous attitude, for the understanding that individuals can better their circumstances through effort and skill is essential to America's social compact. Merit is the glue holding all groups in America together. Public policies should not rig outcomes.

DU PONT, PETE, WSJ.COM Opinion Journal, April 3, 2002

..."affirmative action" ...Relying simply on alleged "under representation" found in statistical analysis, accompanied by the dogmatic assumption that racist discrimination lurks behind every lump in the homogenization of American life, it is concluded that entire racial categories of citizen - as though there could be such categories of citizen in America - are held back by racism...As the racial composition of the NBA famously shows, statistics can be extremely unreliable in identifying discrimination, much less in determining the best remedy for achieving justice.

KEYES, ALAN, WorldNetDaily.com Commentary, August 11, 2001

I have a dream, that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. I have a dream today.

KING, REVEREND MARTIN LUTHER, 1963

[R]ace-based affirmative action injures blacks [because] it perpetuates the racist myth that race is significant. The notion that racial diversity is important is itself based on this racist idea. It confuses cultural diversity - a great asset to a university - with racial diversity. It tells the black student that the rest of us regard him first and foremost as black. Yet, no white or Asian student thinks of himself this way, or is seen this way by others. Yet universities chisel this racist absurdity into students' hearts, minds and souls.

PRAGER, DENNIS, Worldnetdaily Commentary, July 1, 2003

The notion of racial quotas is so obviously an expression of racism that no lengthy discussion is necessary. If a young man is barred from a school or a job because the quota for his particular race has been filled, he is barred by reason of his race.

RAND, AYN, Representation Without Authorization

The quota doctrine assumes that all members of a given physiological group are identical and interchangeable...the doctrine holds that it makes no difference to a man whether he or his ‘representative’ is admitted to a school, gets a job, or makes a decision.

RAND, AYN, Representation Without Authorization

There is no surer way to infect mankind with hatred...than by splitting it into ethnic groups or tribes.

RAND, AYN, Global Balkanization

The smallest minority on earth is the individual. Those who deny individual rights, cannot claim to be defenders of minorities.

RAND, AYN, The Virtue of Selfishness; Racism

The free market is one of the really great forces making for tolerance and understanding among human beings. The controlled market gives man rein to express all those blind prejudices and intolerant beliefs to which he is forever subject.

ROGGE, BENJAMIN A., The Case for Economic Freedom, The Freeman, 1963

The free market is politics-blind, religion-blind, and yes, race-blind. Do you ask about the politics or the religion of the farmer who grew the potatoes you buy at the store? Do you ask about the color of the hands that helped produce the steel you use in your office building?

ROGGE, BENJAMIN A., The Case for Economic Freedom, The Freeman, 1963