The Problem With Affirmative Action One of the problems with affirmative action is that it is not based on economic status. A poor minority has the same chance for advancement under affirmative action as a rich one. Critics have raised many questions about that practice There have been charges levied by critics claiming that affirmative action has violated the fourteenth amendment. The fourteenth amendment said, "No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State ... deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws." Reverse discriminati