Democracy is the best way for the people to decide the fate of such a personal issue as affirmative action.

The Sacramento, Calif.-based American Civil Rights Coalition is at work to place affirmative action's future on the Michigan ballot. Although the coalition is against affirmative action, the issue should be voted on for public consideration.

Affirmative action narrowly survived the U.S. Supreme Court last month when justices, in split decisions, upheld the policies of the University of Michigan Law School but struck down the point system used in undergraduate admissions.

Although a vote of the people would exercise our rights as Americans, the movement should come from inside the state, not from outside. State residents should feel that change is needed here.

Some hailed the decisions as a win, while many felt more needs to be done. Here is their opportunity.

Affirmative action is an overlapping policy that affects all facets of society, not just university admissions. It's fitting the general public be able to vote on the issue.

The coalition is chaired by Ward Connerly, who led a similar and successful campaign in California.

The University of California has reported no problems in achieving diversity on its campus.

Many are upset because the initiative is being led by an affirmative action opposer. But that doesn't matter once the initiative reaches the ballot. Then it's up to Michigan voters to decide its fate. It's very possible the initiative would fail.

Like in the past, we feel affirmative action is necessary to correct the wrongs that historically have plagued U.S. education, though quotas are definitely not the best way to go about it. Maybe this ballot proposal is the opportunity Michigan needs to take affirmative action in a different direction.

But what's most important is that college campuses everywhere have what U-M's law school calls a "critical mass" of minorities. Diversity is one of the most important features a college campus can have.

Perhaps some people feel affirmative action is the wrong way to achieve that feature, and they're creating a ballot proposal to fight it. Good for them; they're fighting for what they believe in. It's an example of the way democracy and the United States work.

Public discussion on this issue is the best way to improve it. It's through public discourse that reasonable conclusions and compromises are reached. As if there weren't enough reasons already, this is one more way for voters to get out to the polls and make their voice heard - putting democracy in action. Whether people are for or against affirmative action doesn't matter. Everyone should be motivated to show up at the polls and cast their vote on a very personal issue.

Ultimately, we support Connerly in his quest to get the required 375,000 signatures to place this issue on the ballot in 2004. Nothing is more representative of America than letting the people decide the fate of an issue that affects us all.