16998: Quiet DEIBA+ Conversation Growing Louder.

The commentator featured in the previous post on Quiet DEIBA+ has started a “conversation” at MediaPost as follows:

 

Ronald Kurtz from American Affluence Research Center

I question the validity of John Caldwell’s statement that “DEI prioritizes identity over merit” and is harmful. Not sure there is much evidence to support that. It may just swing the balance when merit is equal between candidates. It seems shameful that we have a major political party and president who are making the allegations that John has presented. 

 

Artie White from Zoom Media Corp

John Caldwell once again complaining on Mediapost that he couldn’t get a job at Target.

 

John Caldwell from JACaldwell Inc

The idea that DEI only “swings the balance when merit is equal” is false. In practice, DEI openly prioritizes identity over qualifications, leading to hiring quotas, race-based promotions, and discrimination against qualified candidates. If two candidates were truly equal, DEI wouldn’t be needed. Instead, it forces businesses to make decisions based on race and gender rather than performance.

The claim that there’s “not much evidence” of DEI’s harm ignores reality. Companies like Target and Bud Light have suffered financially after prioritizing ideology over competence. Employee morale drops when merit is ignored, and consumer trust erodes when businesses push politics over quality.

Calling opposition to DEI “shameful” is backwards. The real shame is that companies embraced a system that judges people by identity rather than skill. Rejecting DEI isn’t just justified—it’s necessary for fairness and business success.