I would say both are in need, personally, but affirmative action is looking at the reality that society will discriminate more against the Hispanic immigrant… so everything on the way to education and afterwords will reduce the chances of upward mobility and the self-confidence to withstand such discrimination compared to someone who is the dominant perceived race.

people vote in racial/ethnic blocs, so spoils are doled out on those terms

Because the issue goes way further back than college, yet they sit here at the college-level with little-dictators breathing down their necks about why is their college "so white". So how far back does one need to go, and how patient are we to see generational results?

Honestly, I think this is 100% the responsibility of parents. They are the ones that need to break the generational cycle of whatever they're facing. Beyond that - as you say - needs based approaches to this.

I don't understand why we as a society can't simply have "Oh you got more than 95% on your standardized test scores? 100% full scholarship to any college and any degree you wish without paying it back." That is how you fix a society if you ask me, by rewarding hard work and merit.

You could have that too

Not really. Selection is a zero sum game. If you add more Ukrainian refugees, you need to remove some other kids from the running. Needs based discrimination makes different choices than race based discrimination. More of one means less of the other.

All of these are different pools: legacy, merit, AA, needs, international

Just take from some and give to others