DEI

I want to make my position clear. And I think that in specifics, you will agree with me.

DIVERSITY

When my children went to school, I wanted them to be exposed to a variety of children.  I did not want them to go to school with only Jewish kids, I wanted them to have friends who celebrated other religions, Christian, Catholic, Muslim, Buddhist.

I did not want them to go to school with people with the same economic status as them.  I wanted them to meet kids from richer and poorer homes.

I did not want them to go to school with white kids only.  I wanted them to meet kids from Black, Brown, Asian, and Hispanic backgrounds.

There were kids smarter than them, and less smart than them.

Some were more athletic, some more talented in music, art, or writing.

There were kids who came from liberal homes, and some who came from conservative homes.

Some believed that American History was driven by capitalism, some believed that American History was driven by immigration.

My children came away with better, more fully rounded characters because of this diversity.

I support Diversity.

I support institutions which value diversity as the fuel for creativity.

Harvard could fill their incoming freshman class with students who were all valedictorians, all who had 1600 on their SATs, and all who had GPAs of at least 4.0.

I believe, as Harvard believes, that this would result in a less dynamic student body. Colleges should be vibrant nests of debate, discussions, and diverse opinions.

I believe that companies are better staffed with a diversity of voices which create an environment that is more attuned to the needs and desires of the general community, and thus, result in more successful outcomes.

I believe that institutions and companies should value diversity as an important criterion for creating their assemblage of individuals.

I support Diversity.

 I believe that diversity must be one item in the catalog of values that institutions and companies use when assembling their communities.

 I support Diversity.

EQUITY

When my children went looking for jobs, I wanted to be sure that they were treated equally.  My daughter has the right to be hired based on her intellect and abilities, not influenced by her religion, sex, gender, height, weight, appearance, or political views.

My son has the same rights.

I believe that institutions are stronger when they treat all employees equally.   I believe they hurt themselves when they create career paths restricted by the sex, religion, political association, or social activities of their employees.

I believe that those institutions create unnecessary, and destructive friction within their personnel when they pay people based on their sex, race, or religion.

I believe that a veteran who lost his legs in battle should have the same rights to a job.

I believe that an ex-fire fighter with a face disfigured while she fought a fire, should have the same rights to a job.

I believe a gay parent married to another man should have the same rights to a job.

I believe that we would all feel less uncomfortable around the “different” if they are coworkers and we get to know them on an every-day, personal basis.

I support Equity

 I believe that equity must be one item in the catalog of values that institutions and companies use when assembling their communities.

I support Equity

 INCLUSION

When I was younger, Jews could not even be brought as guests at many golf clubs.  Today, those same clubs have Jewish members.

The college I went to was created in 1950 because there were too few colleges that allowed Jews to major in Pre-med.

I support Inclusion.

I believe that institutions are stronger when they not only accept but celebrate their diversity.  I believe they hurt themselves when they insist that their personnel accept the religious, political, or social principles of the owners.

I support inclusion.

 I believe that inclusion must be one item in the catalog of values that institutions and companies use when assembling their communities.

I support Inclusion.

 I think we ALL support DEI.

WON’T THE FREE MARKET SUPPORT DEI?

You may ask the question: “If DEI makes companies more competitive, schools more desirable, and institutions more attractive, then won’t the free market insist on DEI?”

We can do the experiment, right?

In a free market, I do believe that companies with a diverse workforce, and a wider spectrum of views will have an advantage.  I do believe that in such a market, the better institutions of higher education will attract a stronger student body.  I do believe that country clubs and charitable organizations will be more widely adopted.   That would be true in a free market.

Unfortunately, we are not in a free market anymore.  Here is what the current administration had done to hamper DEI:

• They terminated all diversity, equity and inclusion offices, positions and programs in the federal government.
• They terminated any equity-related grants and contracts.
• They repealed any prior executive orders designed to ensure equal opportunity in the workplace dating back through the Lyndon Johnson administration.
• They directed all federal agencies to contractually obligate federal contractors and grantees to certify that they do not operate ANY programs promoting DEI.
• Trump stated that DEI is illegal and immoral.
• They threatened publicly traded corporations, large non-profits, philanthropic foundations, professional associations, and institutions of higher education with legal action if they have programs that are designed to advance equity.

These moves are specifically designed to remove these freedoms from the market, and that’s one giant thumb on the experiment.