Slave Reparations

Lisa

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The only person who supported this is Marianne Williamson who is polling at less then 1% and will likely drop out entirely before the next debate. You make no sense.
She was trying to get votes with reparations and thought this would get her voters.
 

Vytas

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And direct payments to people who weren’t actually slaves themselves seems senseless.
People shouldn't be paid for knowing their family history. I understand that somebody from south Africa who has a surname Green might be constantly remainded that his family went through some incredibly tough times. But still why would you expect money for it? You? Where is logic in that?
 

rainerann

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I think it’s just gonna make people mad that their taxes are going for something that’s being manipulated to win an election.
For one, people are already mad and this has about as much of a chance of making things worse as commemorating Martin Luther King day. We literally celebrate aholiday that recognizes civil rights which does not celebrate our finest moments in the history of our country and this doesn’t make things any worse.

Finalizing reparations would be no different than establishing Martin Luther King day and there is nothing about listening to the voter population that would ever be considered a way of manipulating votes.

A survey about this subject says, “White Americans, 81%, are much more likely than African Americans, 35%, and Latinos, 47%, to oppose giving monetary compensation to descendants of slaves.”

http://maristpoll.marist.edu/510-reparations-for-slavery-in-the-united-states/

This is the same as saying 65 percent of the African American population would like to see reparations finalized. I can’t see how doing something that a significant number of people within this community wants is going to make things worse.

It won’t fix every problem with economic inequality, but it would be a good place to start.

This article also suggests that there are private companies who recognize they may have profited from slavery. It is suggested that they be involved in finalizing this offer. I am on the fence about this because I don’t know much about what this entails, but that would be an option that wouldn’t involve the taxpayer too. There are other options and it is always good to do what you say you are going to do. This country said they would pay reparations and this should be done.
 

Lisa

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For one, people are already mad and this has about as much of a chance of making things worse as commemorating Martin Luther King day. We literally celebrate aholiday that recognizes civil rights which does not celebrate our finest moments in the history of our country and this doesn’t make things any worse.

Finalizing reparations would be no different than establishing Martin Luther King day and there is nothing about listening to the voter population that would ever be considered a way of manipulating votes.

A survey about this subject says, “White Americans, 81%, are much more likely than African Americans, 35%, and Latinos, 47%, to oppose giving monetary compensation to descendants of slaves.”

http://maristpoll.marist.edu/510-reparations-for-slavery-in-the-united-states/

This is the same as saying 65 percent of the African American population would like to see reparations finalized. I can’t see how doing something that a significant number of people within this community wants is going to make things worse.

It won’t fix every problem with economic inequality, but it would be a good place to start.

This article also suggests that there are private companies who recognize they may have profited from slavery. It is suggested that they be involved in finalizing this offer. I am on the fence about this because I don’t know much about what this entails, but that would be an option that wouldn’t involve the taxpayer too. There are other options and it is always good to do what you say you are going to do. This country said they would pay reparations and this should be done.
You did see that 81% of white people oppose it...that could be a problem, don’t ya think? The Latino’s are on the fence about it too, with 47% opposed.

If companies paid them, it would come from us too..who buys their products?

The people who should have paid it are the ones who thought it up..but then again they probably had their own agenda for doing it anyway. I don’t see where paying people because they came as slaves is gonna erase what happened to their relatives...money doesn’t solve all problems.
 

rainerann

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You did see that 81% of white people oppose it...that could be a problem, don’t ya think? The Latino’s are on the fence about it too, with 47% opposed.

If companies paid them, it would come from us too..who buys their products?

The people who should have paid it are the ones who thought it up..but then again they probably had their own agenda for doing it anyway. I don’t see where paying people because they came as slaves is gonna erase what happened to their relatives...money doesn’t solve all problems.
Well you do see how pointing out the 81 percent and saying that this is the reason that providing reparations would cause problems is the same as reinforcing the message that the racism present in the US right now basically requires a second civil rights movement.

A private corporation paying is nowhere near the same thing as paying reparations with tax payers money. A private corporation has your money because you voluntarily gave this money to them in exchange for goods. Paying taxes is not the same thing as making a voluntary purchase.

Technically, it is a feasible solution to investigate the opportunity to distribute responsibility to private corporations that agree they have benefited from slave labor within their history. We could share this burden with them so that it wasn’t entirely funded by tax payers money and create a scholarship fund and each party would each be responsible for a percentage of it that should be given a lifetime where you could only claim your portion based on a criteria that proves you were negatively affected by slavery and for a set duration of say 25 years. After 25 years the opportunity expires and reparations is complete.

It would be no different than establishing Martin Luther King jr day. People would be no more or less mad about the subject of racism than they already are and our country would have found a way to do what we said we were going to do.
 

rainerann

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“. I don’t see where paying people because they came as slaves is gonna erase what happened to their relatives...money doesn’t solve all problems.”

Money may not solve all problems but a little extra money would make it a lot easier to improve a person’s quality of life.

You know junior colleges were created to help people in lower incomes levels to get a college education. However, many people in lower income levels can’t afford to go to junior college either because school expense exceeds tuition and the cost of books. School costs time lost in whatever job you have to work to make ends meat as well.

Money won’t change the past, but it is not a meaningless way to right the wrongs that were done to someone’s relatives.
 

Lisa

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“. I don’t see where paying people because they came as slaves is gonna erase what happened to their relatives...money doesn’t solve all problems.”

Money may not solve all problems but a little extra money would make it a lot easier to improve a person’s quality of life.

You know junior colleges were created to help people in lower incomes levels to get a college education. However, many people in lower income levels can’t afford to go to junior college either because school expense exceeds tuition and the cost of books. School costs time lost in whatever job you have to work to make ends meat as well.

Money won’t change the past, but it is not a meaningless way to right the wrongs that were done to someone’s relatives.
I think the best way to right those wrongs was already done, by freeing the slaves and letting them be in control of their own lives. I don’t see where giving their descendants money for what happened to the slaves is necessary...it didn’t happen to them and it isn’t happening to them right now.
 

rainerann

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I think the best way to right those wrongs was already done, by freeing the slaves and letting them be in control of their own lives. I don’t see where giving their descendants money for what happened to the slaves is necessary...it didn’t happen to them and it isn’t happening to them right now.
You do understand why they offered reparations when they freed the slaves do you? You understand how challenging it would be for them to start a life with absolutely nothing since they had not made any wages as a slave?

Picture leaving a plantation with absolutely nothing and walking without shoes somewhere subject to weather conditions, homeless. How would you go about starting over at this point? Reparations was about helping people start over because that would absolutely suck and the people who experienced this did nothing to deserve it. You aren’t going to help people forget this with your arguments about why reparations aren’t needed.

The only thing I see from the percentages I posted is that 81% of the country has absolutely no idea what this would have legitimately been like for these people and have no idea why this was offered in the first place, and 35% percent of this community either didn’t experience hardship because of slavery or has been able to advance in a way that they have moved on.

I don’t know if that factors into boundaries for finalizing something like this, but setting them free from slavery was not enough then and it is not going to be forgotten that this was not enough until this offer that was legitimately made is finalized in some way.

This is doing what our country said it would do. This is about having integrity as a nation.
 

Lisa

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You do understand why they offered reparations when they freed the slaves do you? You understand how challenging it would be for them to start a life with absolutely nothing since they had not made any wages as a slave?

Picture leaving a plantation with absolutely nothing and walking without shoes somewhere subject to weather conditions, homeless. How would you go about starting over at this point? Reparations was about helping people start over because that would absolutely suck and the people who experienced this did nothing to deserve it. You aren’t going to help people forget this with your arguments about why reparations aren’t needed.

The only thing I see from the percentages I posted is that 81% of the country has absolutely no idea what this would have legitimately been like for these people and have no idea why this was offered in the first place, and 35% percent of this community either didn’t experience hardship because of slavery or has been able to advance in a way that they have moved on.

I don’t know if that factors into boundaries for finalizing something like this, but setting them free from slavery was not enough then and it is not going to be forgotten that this was not enough until this offer that was legitimately made is finalized in some way.

This is doing what our country said it would do. This is about having integrity as a nation.
Ya, actually I can understand giving them some money then to start a new life, not so much now...
 

justjess

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Having integrity as a nation would mean caring for our own people more than caring about our status as a world power. Having integrity as a nation would mean ensuring all our citizens had healthcare and homeless veterans weren’t homeless and could live with dignity after serving our country. Having integrity as a nation would mean a million different things that we don’t have now that we should.

Throwing a few dollars to the third generation defendants of slaves isn’t going to restore our nations integrity and might very well start a race riot the likes of which we’ve never seen before when all the struggling poor of every other race resent their tax dollars going to help people who’s problems they didn’t cause while they themselves are starving and every single program to help low income people is being gutted.
 

rainerann

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Having integrity as a nation would be finding a point of origin to start making changes. This is a good point of origin. Having integrity is looking for ways to improve our foundation. This would help improve our foundation.

I truly would need support to believe it would cause race riots too since I don’t personally a lot of the negativity the media presents as well. I truly think this is a sensationalized comment. The only way I see it causing race riots is if Donald trump established it. Otherwise, I don’t see anything about this getting enough attention to cause a race riot.

This is what our country said it would do. It should do it. Saying that we should distribute a benefit like this among everyone who ever has experienced discrimination in America as though this were the Soviet Union is what would cause problems. These people were promised something they didn’t get. They should get this because it was promised to them alone.
 

Aero

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Well if slavery reparations stimulate the economy, it should offset any tax burden. At least in theory anyway.

I see several other glaring problems with this issue though. First, the liberals aren't buying it. My thoughts as to why are pretty simple. It will seem like political pandering. Mainly because they don't have the foresight to practically bring such a thing to fruition. And they certainly aren't equipped to make good arguments.

The second problem relates to my first statement. The idea that reparations will stimulate the economy will go right out the window once it gains steam. The public will look at it like more government handouts. Plus it's important to note a large segment of America thinks to raise wages also = handouts. Nevermind if higher wages will stimulate the economy, we can't have it.

Lastly on a more personal note. I think the whole thing is a land mine. Especially considering the political climate these days. I mean we are going to need superhuman bravery to actually spearhead this thing. However, I am with Marianne Williamson on this one. I think it's a good idea from a psychic perspective.
 

rainerann

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Doing something like this is not the same thing as saying no to other opportunities to help others either. Personally, I like to give and it doesn’t bother me to give. Most of my problem with programs comes from centralizing them through the federal government.

I also realize that finalizing reparations is somewhat symbolic, but I truly believe it is a very positive sort of symbolism. Much better than a checkerboard or some sort of symbol of vanity. It should have been done at the time and the generations that descend from these people still deserve this gesture of making good on a promise that was made to their relatives.
 

elsbet

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No one else was ever offered reparations and had this offer neglected. We are under no obligation to pay reparations to those who may have suffered discrimination after coming to this country by choice.

Reparations are in response to Africans coming to this country by force and being forced to work as slaves.
How would you distinguish between those who descended from people who were forced to come here, and those who came of their own volition?
 

rainerann

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How would you distinguish between those who descended from people who were forced to come here, and those who came of their own volition?
I think most people who immigrated here in the past hundred years from Africa know who they are. That seems like one of the easier things to distinguish. A lot of people from Africa are fairly recent immigrants and still have accents for one. They have African names for two. Pretty easy to see that someone with McNabb for a last name would qualify.

Then you could just set a limit of like one scholarship per family of four or something with a stipulation that families exceeding four members but less than eight would still only receive one scholarship. Reparations is not really a complicated thing. It was never something that would need to be interpreted as a yearly allowance for life for every African American who descended from the time of slavery. One full tuition scholarship has a lot of value beyond a monetary value too.
 
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rainerann

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It’s also not like there was a line of people waiting to come to the US from Africa before the civil rights movement, so i really don’t think it would be all that hard to distinguish
 
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elsbet

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It’s also not like there was a line of people waiting to come to the US from Africa before the civil rights movement, so i really don’t think it would be all that hard to distinguish
No offense but the government that enslaved the people way back when, is same government in power today. They come in all different colors, but the Spirit is the same. The likelihood of true penance, in the form of reparations-- real, symbolic, or both-- is virtually nil.
 

r8dr_rider

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Boo hoo! The US doesn’t owe you sh@t! You were not a slave. And don’t forget about who sold the slaves to Americans? Africans! Tribes would conquer other tribes then sell off slaves to the white man. Slavery did not start in the US. It’s Biblical man!!! So should the Jews ask the Egyptians for reparations too???? So ask your African tribesman to give you reparations.
 
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