WITH respect to Jonny Steinberg, his column (Affirmative action unleashed Thatcher’s talent, March 4) concluding that Margaret Thatcher was a beneficiary of affirmative action is wishful thinking.
Affirmative action is blind to merit. It is selective of beneficiaries based mainly on their skin colour or nonskill attributes. In contrast, Ms Thatcher was the beneficiary of Bertie Blatch’s recognition of her merit and further potential as a politician.
It might be more accurate to conclude that Ms Thatcher was the beneficiary of an equal-opportunity selection process based on merit only.
Mark Turner
Hartbeespoort Dam
Margaret Thatcher leaves a service of remembrance in London for her late husband Sir Denis Thatcher in this October 30 2003 file photo. Picture: REUTERS
WITH respect to Jonny Steinberg, his column (Affirmative action unleashed Thatcher’s talent, March 4) concluding that Margaret Thatcher was a beneficiary of affirmative action is wishful thinking.
Affirmative action is blind to merit. It is selective of beneficiaries based mainly on their skin colour or nonskill attributes. In contrast, Ms Thatcher was the beneficiary of Bertie Blatch’s recognition of her merit and further potential as a politician.
It might be more accurate to conclude that Ms Thatcher was the beneficiary of an equal-opportunity selection process based on merit only.
Mark Turner
Hartbeespoort Dam
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