Page 59 - Šolsko polje, XXVIII, 2017, no. 3-4: Education and the American Dream, ed. Mitja Sardoč
P. 59
c. ghosh ■ livin’ the meritocratic dream!
Finally, race-neutral Percent Plans are more politically feasible and
popular than affirmative action policies because they are unambiguous-
ly designed to reward effort and merit – an ideal affirmed by the vast ma-
jority of Americans. It makes sense, therefore, that Percent Plans are slow-
ly replacing and will most likely supplant affirmative action policies in the
near future. Anyone interested in the widest possible inclusion of all ra-
cial and ethnic groups and in spreading opportunity widely across the US
should thus find Percent Plans encouraging. And those committed to uni-
versal access to college education in the US should probably also advocate
for some version of Percent Plans to be incorporated into universal access.
References
Arrow, K., Bowles, S. and Durlauf, S. (eds.) (2000) Meritocracy and Econom-
ic Inequality. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.
Baer, D. & M. Penn. (2015) The American Dream: Personal Optimists, Na-
tional Pessimists. The Atlantic, 1 July 2015, https://www.theatlan-
tic.com/national/archive/2015/07/aspen-ideas-american-dream-sur-
vey/397274/.
Bell, D. (2003) Learning From Living: The University of Michigan Affirma-
tive Action Cases. Jurist: Online Symposium, University of Pittsburgh
Law School, http://www.jurist.org/forum/symposium-aa/index-print-
er.php.
Bybee, K.J. & Ghosh, C. (2009) Legalizing Public Reason, the American
Dream, Same-sex Marriage and Managing Radical Disputes. Studies in
Law, Politics, and Society, 49.
Citrin, J. Haas, E.B., Muste, M. & B. Reingold, B. (1994) Is American Na-
tionalism Changing? Implications for Foreign Policy. International
Studies Quarterly 38(1).
Conley, D. (1999) Being Black, Living in the Red: Race, Wealth and Social
Policy in America. Berkeley: Berkeley.
Delgado, R. & Stefancic, J. (eds.) (2001) Critical Race Theory – An Introduc-
tion. New York: NYU Press.
Ghosh, C. (2013) The Politics of the American Dream: Democratic Inclu-
sion in Contemporary American Political Culture. New York: Pal-
grave-Macmillan.
Guinier, L. & Torres, G. (2002) The Miner’s Canary. Cambridge, MA: Har-
vard University Press.
Hanson, S.L & Zogby, J. (2010) Attitudes about the American Dream. Pub-
lic Opinion Quarterly 74(3), pp. 570-584.
57
Finally, race-neutral Percent Plans are more politically feasible and
popular than affirmative action policies because they are unambiguous-
ly designed to reward effort and merit – an ideal affirmed by the vast ma-
jority of Americans. It makes sense, therefore, that Percent Plans are slow-
ly replacing and will most likely supplant affirmative action policies in the
near future. Anyone interested in the widest possible inclusion of all ra-
cial and ethnic groups and in spreading opportunity widely across the US
should thus find Percent Plans encouraging. And those committed to uni-
versal access to college education in the US should probably also advocate
for some version of Percent Plans to be incorporated into universal access.
References
Arrow, K., Bowles, S. and Durlauf, S. (eds.) (2000) Meritocracy and Econom-
ic Inequality. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.
Baer, D. & M. Penn. (2015) The American Dream: Personal Optimists, Na-
tional Pessimists. The Atlantic, 1 July 2015, https://www.theatlan-
tic.com/national/archive/2015/07/aspen-ideas-american-dream-sur-
vey/397274/.
Bell, D. (2003) Learning From Living: The University of Michigan Affirma-
tive Action Cases. Jurist: Online Symposium, University of Pittsburgh
Law School, http://www.jurist.org/forum/symposium-aa/index-print-
er.php.
Bybee, K.J. & Ghosh, C. (2009) Legalizing Public Reason, the American
Dream, Same-sex Marriage and Managing Radical Disputes. Studies in
Law, Politics, and Society, 49.
Citrin, J. Haas, E.B., Muste, M. & B. Reingold, B. (1994) Is American Na-
tionalism Changing? Implications for Foreign Policy. International
Studies Quarterly 38(1).
Conley, D. (1999) Being Black, Living in the Red: Race, Wealth and Social
Policy in America. Berkeley: Berkeley.
Delgado, R. & Stefancic, J. (eds.) (2001) Critical Race Theory – An Introduc-
tion. New York: NYU Press.
Ghosh, C. (2013) The Politics of the American Dream: Democratic Inclu-
sion in Contemporary American Political Culture. New York: Pal-
grave-Macmillan.
Guinier, L. & Torres, G. (2002) The Miner’s Canary. Cambridge, MA: Har-
vard University Press.
Hanson, S.L & Zogby, J. (2010) Attitudes about the American Dream. Pub-
lic Opinion Quarterly 74(3), pp. 570-584.
57
