Let's get down to brass tacks. There are one of two possibilites:
1. The United States has completely overcome its history of discrimination and is currently a completely egalitarian meritocratic society.
2. The United States hasn't and there are still areas in this country where discrimination can be found.
If you believe in #1, then what David calls "mandatory discrimination, racial preferences, quotas, special treatment" are not only bad policy, they are morally abhorant. If you believe in #2, then concrete action must be taken so #1 can be achieved.
Does anyone reading this really believe that #1 has been achieved?