I'm not sure we can have a productive conversation about this, but while Republicans are indeed full of shit, DEI initiatives certainly do have an effect on meritocratic selection. For example in colleges Asians are/were rejected at higher rates despite having higher academic performance because of representation goals; black doctors have lower MCAT scores/GPAs than doctors of other races; etc.
Personally, I'm all for affirmative action with criteria that aren't based on protected class. For example if you help out poor people instead of black people, you'll end up helping a lot of black people in the end, but you will also help Asian/other people that need the help, and you won't waste your resources "helping" black people who don't need it.
Personally, I'm all for affirmative action with criteria that aren't based on protected class. For example if you help out poor people instead of black people, you'll end up helping a lot of black people in the end, but you will also help Asian/other people that need the help, and you won't waste your resources "helping" black people who don't need it.