US Considers Reparations For Slavery

[Skarten]

Sadly, that plan relies on actually agreeing that we should pay reparations to the descendants of slaves. Which we don't. So oops, your plan is useless.

The government is paying damages becuase the victims are still alive, or at least, their direct families are.

Did you know that families can span more than one generation? It's true!

Direct Families. You don't get to be a victim because of something that happened to your great-great grand father.

[Skarten]

I'm descended from both slaves and slave-owners.

Do I get money or do I owe it?

It all depends on your skin color. If you're white, then that means you're evil, and thus all your property and money must be taken by the state. If you're not, then you're an tragic, poor person, who needs to be given property and money by the state.

[Scomagia]

Define "white". Or "black", for that matter.

Race is a social construct with no basis in biology.

---

You can't really be responsible as a taxpayer since you don't choose to pay taxes. Sure, you could be unemployed and a hobo, but when that's the only choice other than having a house, a job, and paying taxes, is it really a choice?

Not really. But governments can be made to pay damages, and I've been told in this thread that the government paying for something means that the tax payer is really paying for it, and that damages should only be paid by the people responsible. If we put those things together, then when the government pays damages that means that the tax payer is really the one responsible. Of course, that's not what I believe. But that's what people in this thread have told me is true.

Does anyone see where I'm going with this yet? My sneaky plan is to keep asking if individual tax payers are personally responsible when the government is made to pay out damages. People will naturally explain to me "No Iffy, of course I'm not responsible for that bad thing, I wasn't involved. The government is responsible." Good point, you've convinced me, the government can be responsible for bad things happening separate from tax payers being individually responsible. Hey, wasn't the government responsible for slavery? Didn't it pass and enforce laws facilitating slavery? So wouldn't that mean that the government can be held responsible for slavery and made to pay damages without individual tax payers being responsible?

Oh shit, I've given away my whole plan.

So, if you can't even define who is black or white, how are you going to distribute reparations?

[Scomagia]

Race is a social construct with no basis in biology.

---

Not really. But governments can be made to pay damages, and I've been told in this thread that the government paying for something means that the tax payer is really paying for it, and that damages should only be paid by the people responsible. If we put those things together, then when the government pays damages that means that the tax payer is really the one responsible. Of course, that's not what I believe. But that's what people in this thread have told me is true.

Does anyone see where I'm going with this yet? My sneaky plan is to keep asking if individual tax payers are personally responsible when the government is made to pay out damages. People will naturally explain to me "No Iffy, of course I'm not responsible for that bad thing, I wasn't involved. The government is responsible." Good point, you've convinced me, the government can be responsible for bad things happening separate from tax payers being individually responsible. Hey, wasn't the government responsible for slavery? Didn't it pass and enforce laws facilitating slavery? So wouldn't that mean that the government can be held responsible for slavery and made to pay damages without individual tax payers being responsible?

Oh shit, I've given away my whole plan.

Sadly, that plan relies on actually agreeing that we should pay reparations to the descendants of slaves. Which we don't. So oops, your plan is useless.

Well, he admitted that there's no valid criteria upon which to base whiteness or blackness, so any reparations would be arbitrarily distributed anyhow.

[Bear Stearns]

I'm descended from both slaves and slave-owners.

Do I get money or do I owe it?

It all depends on your skin color. If you're white, then that means you're evil, and thus all your property and money must be taken by the state. If you're not, then you're an tragic, poor person, who needs to be given property and money by the state.

Dang. I'm blond and blue-eyed.

[Scomagia]

It all depends on your skin color. If you're white, then that means you're evil, and thus all your property and money must be taken by the state. If you're not, then you're an tragic, poor person, who needs to be given property and money by the state.

Dang. I'm blond and blue-eyed.

Looks like you don't get anything. But that's not racist....somehow.

[Skarten]

Dang. I'm blond and blue-eyed.

Looks like you don't get anything. But that's not racist....somehow.

Didn't you hear? You can't be racist to white people, the internet told me so.

[Ifreann]

Oh honey. Ireland isn't part of NATO. America doesn't have any bases here. You can stop paying the $0 you contribute to our defence any time you like. And we'll close Shannon Airport to US military flights. You ever hear of Shannon? Probably not. America uses it as a stopping off point for flights to and from the Middle East. We contribute more to your foreign wars than you contribute to our defence, so maybe swing your dick somewhere else.

Oh darling. Stop trying to guilt trip a nation to promote a left wing agenda.

Stop trying to get me to stop posting things you don't like by threatening to withdraw America's military protection from my country.

we ain't paying reparations for slavery. Get over it.

Much as you seem to think otherwise, I'm not hugely emotionally invested in the idea. I won't lose any sleep if you don't pay reparations, and I won't throw a party if you do.

[Holy Tedalonia]

Yeah I read it, and my response is “wait isn’t it better for everyone if we focus on something that actually matters, like improve education?”

You don't think it actually matters that black families are vastly poorer than white families?

Weird flex, but okay.

I think it is important to help out all poorer families, which is what welfare is for.

Why should I care to promote on race of people over others?

The major defense for this blithering stupid idea is, that black folk didn’t have a fair start. Sure, that’s true, but that’s also true for any Russian, Italian, or Irish. When it comes down to it, everyone can benefit if we improve and spend more on education. Spending money on one group, a measly $50 for each individual no less, isn’t going to help anyone

Reminder that $50 is an amount you made up, so if it's measly that's because you made up a measly amount. And the $50 to every black man, and it was also you who specified black men, would amount to about $1 billion. An extra $1 billion won't make a blind bit of difference to America's education system. It won't benefit everyone. It will barely benefit anyone.

$50s was on the OP, as per its suggestion.

[Ifreann]

Did you know that families can span more than one generation? It's true!

Direct Families. You don't get to be a victim because of something that happened to your great-great grand father.

I am directly descended from my great-great-grandfather. He is my father's father's father's father. He is my family.

---

I'm descended from both slaves and slave-owners.

Do I get money or do I owe it?

It all depends on your skin color. If you're white, then that means you're evil, and thus all your property and money must be taken by the state. If you're not, then you're an tragic, poor person, who needs to be given property and money by the state.

Redistribute ALL the wealth.

---

Race is a social construct with no basis in biology.

---

Not really. But governments can be made to pay damages, and I've been told in this thread that the government paying for something means that the tax payer is really paying for it, and that damages should only be paid by the people responsible. If we put those things together, then when the government pays damages that means that the tax payer is really the one responsible. Of course, that's not what I believe. But that's what people in this thread have told me is true.

Does anyone see where I'm going with this yet? My sneaky plan is to keep asking if individual tax payers are personally responsible when the government is made to pay out damages. People will naturally explain to me "No Iffy, of course I'm not responsible for that bad thing, I wasn't involved. The government is responsible." Good point, you've convinced me, the government can be responsible for bad things happening separate from tax payers being individually responsible. Hey, wasn't the government responsible for slavery? Didn't it pass and enforce laws facilitating slavery? So wouldn't that mean that the government can be held responsible for slavery and made to pay damages without individual tax payers being responsible?

Oh shit, I've given away my whole plan.

So, if you can't even define who is black or white, how are you going to distribute reparations?

Money is also a social construct. Do you think money can't be defined?

---

Dang. I'm blond and blue-eyed.

Looks like you don't get anything...

lrn2read

I'm descended from both slaves and slave-owners.

Do I get money or do I owe it?

Yes.

[Skarten]

Direct Families. You don't get to be a victim because of something that happened to your great-great grand father.

I am directly descended from my great-great-grandfather. He is my father's father's father's father. He is my family.

---

It all depends on your skin color. If you're white, then that means you're evil, and thus all your property and money must be taken by the state. If you're not, then you're an tragic, poor person, who needs to be given property and money by the state.

Redistribute ALL the wealth.

---

So, if you can't even define who is black or white, how are you going to distribute reparations?

Money is also a social construct. Do you think money can't be defined?

---

Looks like you don't get anything...

lrn2read

Yes.

Yeah, but you're not a victim. And you can't inherit victimhood. If you weren't actually affected by the problem, then you don't get to claim you were a victim.

[Ifreann]

You don't think it actually matters that black families are vastly poorer than white families?

Weird flex, but okay.

I think it is important to help out all poorer families, which is what welfare is for.

Why should I care to promote on race of people over others?

It says something about a society to have such a massive wealth gap along racial lines, doesn't it?

Reminder that $50 is an amount you made up, so if it's measly that's because you made up a measly amount. And the $50 to every black man, and it was also you who specified black men, would amount to about $1 billion. An extra $1 billion won't make a blind bit of difference to America's education system. It won't benefit everyone. It will barely benefit anyone.

$50s was on the OP, as per its suggestion.

The OP doesn't suggest giving $50 to every black man.

[Ifreann]

I am directly descended from my great-great-grandfather. He is my father's father's father's father. He is my family.

---

Redistribute ALL the wealth.

---

Money is also a social construct. Do you think money can't be defined?

---

lrn2read

Yeah, but you're not a victim. And you can't inherit victimhood. If you weren't actually affected by the problem, then you don't get to claim you were a victim.

The government is paying damages becuase the victims are still alive, or at least, their direct families are.

[Skarten]

Yeah, but you're not a victim. And you can't inherit victimhood. If you weren't actually affected by the problem, then you don't get to claim you were a victim.

The government is paying damages becuase the victims are still alive, or at least, their direct families are.

That's what i mean by direct family, you giant meme. I'm talking about children and spouses. The people who actually depended on them. Not some random person a century and a half later who probably doesn't even know that person's name.

[Communal concils]

Maybe instead of wasting resources on this, they could just try to abolish the roots of racism. The Present is more important in this situation, and racial divides need to be remove with strict economic and social policies.

[Holy Tedalonia]

I think it is important to help out all poorer families, which is what welfare is for.

Why should I care to promote on race of people over others?

It says something about a society to have such a massive wealth gap along racial lines, doesn't it?

Aye, but do you really think giving benefits to certain races is the answer. Mend the gap with welfare and hard work, instead of favoritism.

$50s was on the OP, as per its suggestion.

The OP doesn't suggest giving $50 to every black man.

Its in the quote he uses about the proposal, people are talking about. It was namely 57 dollars, but I simplified it for typing sake.

[Scomagia]

Direct Families. You don't get to be a victim because of something that happened to your great-great grand father.

I am directly descended from my great-great-grandfather. He is my father's father's father's father. He is my family.

---

It all depends on your skin color. If you're white, then that means you're evil, and thus all your property and money must be taken by the state. If you're not, then you're an tragic, poor person, who needs to be given property and money by the state.

Redistribute ALL the wealth.

---

So, if you can't even define who is black or white, how are you going to distribute reparations?

Money is also a social construct. Do you think money can't be defined?

---

Looks like you don't get anything...

lrn2read

Yes.

So you aren't actually going to give real answers. How typical.

[Scomagia]

Maybe instead of wasting resources on this, they could just try to abolish the roots of racism. The Present is more important in this situation, and racial divides need to be remove with strict economic and social policies.

Or we could stop arbitrarily assuming that racism is the root of black people's problems as opposed to, say, the war on drugs.

[Ifreann]

That's what i mean by direct family,

And I've shown you how we are, all of us, directly descended from our great-great-grandparents.

you giant meme.

What an odd insult.

I'm talking about children and spouses. The people who actually depended on them. Not some random person a century and a half later who probably doesn't even know that person's name.

Parents don't depend on their children. Usually.

[Ifreann]

Maybe instead of wasting resources on this, they could just try to abolish the roots of racism. The Present is more important in this situation, and racial divides need to be remove with strict economic and social policies.

Or we could stop arbitrarily assuming that racism is the root of black people's problems as opposed to, say, the war on drugs.

The two things are unrelated?

[Scomagia]

Or we could stop arbitrarily assuming that racism is the root of black people's problems as opposed to, say, the war on drugs.

The two things are unrelated?

I'm done with you, Iffy. You never post in good faith and I'm frankly tired of reading what you post. That post wasn't directed at you, nor will any be in the future.

[Skarten]

That's what i mean by direct family,

And I've shown you how we are, all of us, directly descended from our great-great-grandparents.

you giant meme.

What an odd insult.

I'm talking about children and spouses. The people who actually depended on them. Not some random person a century and a half later who probably doesn't even know that person's name.

Parents don't depend on their children. Usually.

Now you're just being purposefully stupid. I'm not saying that parent depend on their children, i'm saying that the only people who get reparations are those who were DIRECTLY AFFECTED by the event. Africans today are in no way being affected by slavery. Or are you one of those people who thinks that since a bad thing happened to an group, they never have to be productive members of society again, and can now use that event as an excuse for everything they don't do forever?

[Ifreann]

And I've shown you how we are, all of us, directly descended from our great-great-grandparents.

What an odd insult.

Parents don't depend on their children. Usually.

Now you're just being purposefully stupid. I'm not saying that parent depend on their children, i'm saying that the only people who get reparations are those who were DIRECTLY AFFECTED by the event. Africans today are in no way being affected by slavery.

That's really only true if you imagine that a lifetime of slavery doesn't leave one in poverty, and that being born into poverty is actually the same as not being born into poverty.

Or are you one of those people who thinks that since a bad thing happened to an group, they never have to be productive members of society again, and can now use that event as an excuse for everything they don't do forever?

I'm not sure what you're trying to say here.

[Skarten]

Now you're just being purposefully stupid. I'm not saying that parent depend on their children, i'm saying that the only people who get reparations are those who were DIRECTLY AFFECTED by the event. Africans today are in no way being affected by slavery.

That's really only true if you imagine that a lifetime of slavery doesn't leave one in poverty, and that being born into poverty is actually the same as not being born into poverty.

Or are you one of those people who thinks that since a bad thing happened to an group, they never have to be productive members of society again, and can now use that event as an excuse for everything they don't do forever?

I'm not sure what you're trying to say here.

Let me put it in simple terms: Just because something bad happened to your great great grandparents doesn't mean you can use that as an excuse. "Oh, but that means they were born into poverty!" And? So now because you were born into poverty that means that you can't leave it? Have you heard of a thing called effort and hard work?

Your next line will be "Imagine thinking that hard work can get you out of poverty"

[Ifreann]

That's really only true if you imagine that a lifetime of slavery doesn't leave one in poverty, and that being born into poverty is actually the same as not being born into poverty.

I'm not sure what you're trying to say here.

Let me put it in simple terms: Just because something bad happened to your great great grandparents doesn't mean you can use that as an excuse.

An excuse for what? What do you think I am making excuses for?

"Oh, but that means they were born into poverty!" And? So now because you were born into poverty that means that you can't leave it?

It's not a matter of whether they can work their way out of poverty or not. They suffered from slavery without being slaves.

Have you heard of a thing called effort and hard work?

Your next line will be "Imagine thinking that hard work can get you out of poverty"

Go put on some shoes. Grab the laces. Pull straight up. Tell me how far you get off the ground.