Combating the Skilled White Male Menace

Advice Goddess and friend of Reason Amy Alkon points out this blog post from Clinton Secretary of Labor Robert Reich, titled "How to Create Jobs Without Them All Going to Skilled Professionals and White Male Construction Workers":

And if construction jobs go mainly to white males who already dominate the construction trades, many people who need jobs the most—women, minorities, and the poor and long-term unemployed—will be shut out.

Alkon correctly parses this odd (and oddly discriminatory) statement:

While I'm against government stimulus packages, and for government getting out of the way of business to kick-start our economy, if our tax dollars are going for a stimulus package and I don't have a choice in the matter, I'd really like to see the hiring done based on who's the best person for the job.

Also, Reich's blog post calls to mind an old, weary-yet-wonderful joke:

The world is ending, and reporters and editors valiantly put out their final editions amidst the chaos. Here are their front page headlines:

The New York Times: "World ends; story and analysis on page B11."

The Wall Street Journal: "Market down 5,000 point on news that world is ending"

New York Post: "BOOM!"

The Washington Post: "World ends; women and minorities hardest hit."