So a lot of talk in right wing circles the past few years, the new administration (and subsequently elsewhere, of course), etc about canning DEI initiatives in government, Biden DEI Hires, etc.
With the implication that DEI hires are inherently bad.
I’ve mentioned once or 8 thousand times that I work in defense, and I’ve also mentioned I’ve had to take some DEI training. The main point of the trainings I’ve been in are to help participants be aware of conscious biases and learn about and look for unconscious biases so you don’t fall into them. That said, not not all biases are bad - I’m biased against hiring lazy incompetent people for example. When hiring, the point is to try not to substitute a bad bias as a short hand for a good bias.
Thinking about this, I look at our new SECDEF. THIS IS A SITUATION WHERE DEI INITIATIVES WOULD CLEARLY HELP. Someone comes to you wanting to hire someone like him. You say, hey, hiring manager, why are you hiring him? Is he qualified? Are you letting your biases hire someone unqualified because of whatever reasons over a shitton of others that are clearly more qualified? The answer here, seems clear, that Hegseth is hired because of a bias towards sycophant ass kissers (and probably photogenic tv personalities), rather than merit, despite the lip service given to meritocracy in killing DEI initiatives.
So a clear example where DEI initiatives would help drive you to a better candidate.
But here we are. People cheering on Hegseth and the killing of DEI initiatives in govt.
Yep, I admitted that. I said lazy and incompetent, but I’m also biased against hiring people without relevant qualifications. And for defense, against people who wouldn’t be able to gain a security clearance through normal channels for a multitude of reasons.
I have no problem with discarding DEI. But we must at the same time get rid of legacy admissions, nepotism, and the old boy networks, or the most pernicious and widespread abuses of the system to boost unqualified candidates will continue on - perhaps even stronger than ever. Trump, a C student (along with Dubya), was a DEI admission for the academically challenged to university. Celebrate intellectual diversity!
Some of the most outspoken critics of DEI do not seem to realize or care about the privileges and opportunities they have been handed because of their family, wealth, and connections. I am not speaking of anyone here, most of whom seem like bootstraps types. For example, RFK Jr., who seems to have coasted to where he is solely on his dead father’s name recognition. If he isn’t a case of overlooking more qualified candidates for someone who is not qualified, I don’t know what is.