[barbrastreisand]

I can understand your argument here, but the problem is essentially that almost nobody is fair (as someone else commented here - that based on biases against cultures they will filter our resumes based on names and such). I also get that you think that the issue is a matter of foundation - since fewer women/minorities are learning to be software developers, fewer of them apply. You're just at the end of the assembly line, not the cause of the problem.

The issue is that while misogyny and racism are no longer institutionally enforced, they are far from dead. There's still deep seeded biases and cultural attitudes that are constantly oppressing women and minorities from succeeding (we can certainly argue how big or small an impact this may be, but it is very certainly there without a doubt). Trying to address the foundation (i.e. schooling of children and their upbringing) is a start, it's just not enough. There needs to be a decelerating force applied at all levels of society to counter act decades of inertia working against women and minorities.

Further, my own personal belief is that 'best for the job' is a loose term, especially in the tech industry. Maybe for something like a fireman that has strict and narrow requirements it's easy to say "you need to be the best" through physical endurance tests, but for something as wide as computer software, best can also be people who are more organized, more loyal to the company, and especially more diverse (in terms of creative power). I think I went off on a tangent at the end here, but I hope you understand my main point, which is - affirmative action may seem very unfair, but it is fair in the larger picture, and hopefully something that can go away soon.