Do We Need to Continue Affirmative Action?

Okay so that's the developing world, but what about the United States? I asked Nell if we needed to continue affirmative action programs in this country; haven't they gone on long enough now? She was unequivocal in her response, "Absolutely we do, men still control most of the action, women have systematically been kept out of business for thousands of years and we need to do whatever it takes to level the playing field."

She went on to say there is no way this country (or any other country) is going to solve the problems we face (global warming, war, poverty, hunger, unemployment...) unless we find ways to include women at all levels of decision making and activities in government and business. She believes equality of opportunity for women is good for everyone, not just women, and the sooner we achieve it the better.

I'm still not sure about set-asides and quotas and other do-gooder notions, but this conversation brings up some points I have to consider. Why does it seem like such a great idea to hand over big bucks to big companies who say they'll create jobs but who just take the money and leave anyway? And why does it seem like such a radical idea to loan that same money to lots of small businesses with the potential to grow, create just as many or even more jobs, and who are much more likely to invest in the community and stay put?

And do these small businesses have to be women owned? Is there something different about them? Do we need more of them?