US Considers Reparations For Slavery

[Jolthig]

Not just for slavery, but overall, the racism they faced over the years, and still face.

I'm part of the minority in the polls.

[Big Jim P]

I would be fine with paying any living ex-slaves. There are none left however.

Plenty of slaves still on the planet. Feel free to not limit yourself to the USA.

They are not the subject of this thread though.

[The Republic of Fore]

No, because it takes its money from citizens like me, so in actuality it is the people getting penalized, despite us not being responsible for this. The people who actually owe reparations are long dead.

Suppose the reparations didn't increase the tax burden on you. The government sells assets off or garnishes Congressional wages or something. Would you support the US government paying reparations for its part in slavery then?

You said that you shouldn't have to pay reparations, because your ancestors didn't own slaves. So I assume that you think that people whose ancestors did own slaves do owe reparations. I mean, otherwise why mention your ancestors at all? Well, the US government is essentially the same "person" it was for the entire period that slavery was practised within its jurisdiction. If someone descended from slave owners owes reparations then surely the US government does.

I'd still be against it. They don't deserve free money for something they never personally experienced. Besides, congressional salaries are still paid by the taxpayer, and government assets were purchased with taxpayer money. No reparations period.

[Sovaal]

Eh, I don’t see how it would over all benefit African American communities that much. But honestly I don’t care.

[West Leas Oros 2]

What exactly would these “reparations” be?

[The Grims]

Suppose the reparations didn't increase the tax burden on you. The government sells assets off or garnishes Congressional wages or something. Would you support the US government paying reparations for its part in slavery then?

You said that you shouldn't have to pay reparations, because your ancestors didn't own slaves. So I assume that you think that people whose ancestors did own slaves do owe reparations. I mean, otherwise why mention your ancestors at all? Well, the US government is essentially the same "person" it was for the entire period that slavery was practised within its jurisdiction. If someone descended from slave owners owes reparations then surely the US government does.

I'd still be against it. They don't deserve free money for something they never personally experienced. Besides, congressional salaries are still paid by the taxpayer, and government assets were purchased with taxpayer money. No reparations period.

If people do not deserve free money for something they did not personally experience, does that mean that descendants of slaveowners are not allowed to keep inherited money, homes etc ?

[Paddy O Fernature]

I'd still be against it. They don't deserve free money for something they never personally experienced. Besides, congressional salaries are still paid by the taxpayer, and government assets were purchased with taxpayer money. No reparations period.

If people do not deserve free money for something they did not personally experience, does that mean that descendants of slaveowners are not allowed to keep inherited money, homes etc ?

I'd point out that what you are suggesting is a mighty fine stretch of what he is saying, but I'm pretty sure that you already know that......

[The Republic of Fore]

I'd still be against it. They don't deserve free money for something they never personally experienced. Besides, congressional salaries are still paid by the taxpayer, and government assets were purchased with taxpayer money. No reparations period.

If people do not deserve free money for something they did not personally experience, does that mean that descendants of slaveowners are not allowed to keep inherited money, homes etc ?

Nope, those aren't comparable scenarios. One is a family passing on what they earned, the other is money being stolen to give to people who did nothing to earn it because "wah your ancestors were mean to us!"

[The Grims]

If people do not deserve free money for something they did not personally experience, does that mean that descendants of slaveowners are not allowed to keep inherited money, homes etc ?

I'd point out that what you are suggesting is a mighty fine stretch of what he is saying, but I'm pretty sure that you already know that......

No, I am genuinely of the opinion that his stance is rather hypocritical if he disagrees.

[The Black Forrest]

Hmmmm? Political talk is not really consideration for action.

Reparations? What would that be? How many generations ago was that?

Maybe something for the institutionalized discrimination that went/still going on?

[Bear Stearns]

So we did a family history, and it turns out I'm like 1/24th black. Do I get money too?

[Trackeendy]

How would the reparations for this even work?
How much would be enough to cover that type of thing?

[US-SSR]

It is a documented fact that the current prosperity and power of the US is largely based on taking land from Native Americans and putting African slaves to work on it. The profits from this thievery extended from the cotton fields of the Mississippi basin to the textile mills and manufacturies of New England. No one who has benefited from the strength of the US economy can claim to have no connection to slavery; we are all implicated.

That being said I prefer Ta-Nehisi Coates's solution:

- All African-Americans are automatically registered to vote upon turning 18. No paperwork needed.
- The votes of all African-Americans count for 5/3 of a vote.

I favor this partly because no amount of money could begin to repay the descendants of those who had their land, labor and liberty stolen from them in order to "make America great."

No.

Yes, and my vote counts more than yours because the Electoral College, so I win.

[West Leas Oros 2]

It is a documented fact that the current prosperity and power of the US is largely based on taking land from Native Americans and putting African slaves to work on it. The profits from this thievery extended from the cotton fields of the Mississippi basin to the textile mills and manufacturies of New England. No one who has benefited from the strength of the US economy can claim to have no connection to slavery; we are all implicated.

That being said I prefer Ta-Nehisi Coates's solution:

- All African-Americans are automatically registered to vote upon turning 18. No paperwork needed.
- The votes of all African-Americans count for 5/3 of a vote.

I favor this partly because no amount of money could begin to repay the descendants of those who had their land, labor and liberty stolen from them in order to "make America great."

Why would you value one person’s vote over another? That seems antithetical to democratic principles.

[Kowani]

It is a documented fact that the current prosperity and power of the US is largely based on taking land from Native Americans and putting African slaves to work on it. The profits from this thievery extended from the cotton fields of the Mississippi basin to the textile mills and manufacturies of New England. No one who has benefited from the strength of the US economy can claim to have no connection to slavery; we are all implicated.

That being said I prefer Ta-Nehisi Coates's solution:

- All African-Americans are automatically registered to vote upon turning 18. No paperwork needed.
- The votes of all African-Americans count for 5/3 of a vote.

I favor this partly because no amount of money could begin to repay the descendants of those who had their land, labor and liberty stolen from them in order to "make America great."

Why would you value one person’s vote over another? That seems antithetical to democratic principles.

So, basically, the electoral college.

[Kowani]

Deleted: Double-post.

[Internationalist Bastard]

What exactly would these “reparations” be?

Rice Krispie treats

[Tornado Queendom]

I think that reparations for slavery are a bad idea, because we don't need MORE Debt.

[Internationalist Bastard]

I think that reparations for slavery are a bad idea, because we don't need MORE Debt.

What if instead we required people to work and all the money went to
Oh wait

[Ifreann]

Suppose the reparations didn't increase the tax burden on you. The government sells assets off or garnishes Congressional wages or something. Would you support the US government paying reparations for its part in slavery then?

You said that you shouldn't have to pay reparations, because your ancestors didn't own slaves. So I assume that you think that people whose ancestors did own slaves do owe reparations. I mean, otherwise why mention your ancestors at all? Well, the US government is essentially the same "person" it was for the entire period that slavery was practised within its jurisdiction. If someone descended from slave owners owes reparations then surely the US government does.

I'd still be against it. They don't deserve free money for something they never personally experienced.

If you like you could think of it the reparations going to the slaves and then being inherited by their closest living relatives.

Besides, congressional salaries are still paid by the taxpayer, and government assets were purchased with taxpayer money. No reparations period.

Not even if it doesn't cost you, personally, anything?

---

If people do not deserve free money for something they did not personally experience, does that mean that descendants of slaveowners are not allowed to keep inherited money, homes etc ?

Nope, those aren't comparable scenarios. One is a family passing on what they earned, the other is money being stolen to give to people who did nothing to earn it because "wah your ancestors were mean to us!"

Slaves earned plenty of money that they were never paid. Instead that money went to the slave owners, who passed it on to their children, while the slaves had nothing to pass on to their children.

[Risol]

I see forcing payment to people for their bloodline could actually socially exclude descendants of slaves. The only issues are that you'd be 1. paying people for ancestory, 2. providing a label to put these people who hate labels under, 3. raising an even more ineffective welfare system that rewards laziness and inhibits scientific and economic growth (through lack of employment)

I just don't see it being just. You cannot justify doing this to taxpayers. I'd go as far as saying it's unconstitutional --- but I'll let the judges decide that one (their whole life is studying the Constitution).

The damage is done. No, you can't reverse the first massive race-based slave trade in history that created what I see as a "permanent underclass". I advocate for compensation of living slaves, but not for the descendants of the dead slaves.

[West Leas Oros 2]

Why would you value one person’s vote over another? That seems antithetical to democratic principles.

So, basically, the electoral college.

I don’t support the electoral college to begin with. Or America, for that matter.

[Sahansahiye Iran]

What exactly would these “reparations” be?

Rice Krispie treats

I get and enjoy this reference.

[Greater Carolinas]

It is a documented fact that the current prosperity and power of the US is largely based on taking land from Native Americans and putting African slaves to work on it. The profits from this thievery extended from the cotton fields of the Mississippi basin to the textile mills and manufacturies of New England. No one who has benefited from the strength of the US economy can claim to have no connection to slavery; we are all implicated.

That being said I prefer Ta-Nehisi Coates's solution:

- All African-Americans are automatically registered to vote upon turning 18. No paperwork needed.
- The votes of all African-Americans count for 5/3 of a vote.

I favor this partly because no amount of money could begin to repay the descendants of those who had their land, labor and liberty stolen from them in order to "make America great."

The current prosperity and power of the US is largely from arms manufacturing during WWI and WWII you ignoramus

[Greater Carolinas]

Why would you value one person’s vote over another? That seems antithetical to democratic principles.

So, basically, the electoral college.

The purpose of the electoral college is to make sure that democracy remains proportional. The united states is a republic with representatives not a direct democracy. For votes to be based on the amount of votes rather than the proportional amount of votes would also be discrimination against places with lower populations. We are an union of states and as such all states should be equal, instead of one large country that people seem to think the U.S. is now.