&gt; It is a tricky and difficult subject, I would not be quick to dismiss either argument.<p>It&#x27;s especially tricky because the pro-affirmative-action perspective relies on affirmative action actually working. To the extent that it works, the original case for the special treatment weakens. To the extent that it doesn&#x27;t work, then affirmative action is some sort of token sacrifice, not a way to actually help people. There&#x27;s an inherent tension in there that most affirmative action proponents aren&#x27;t really comfortable with.