Reparations? For what? Was it done to you? Did I do it to you? Or is it simply implementing "institutional racism".
Really when it comes to the topic of reparations it is pretty simple.
Were you a slave?
If so, let's go find who enslaved you and they can pay your reparations. After all people that didn't commit the crime should not be repaying you for something they didn't do and that you personally were not a victim of.
If we can do reparations for what was done or experienced by our ancestors then that becomes a zero sum game because ALL of us have ancestors who were a victim of crimes, and/or perpetrators of crimes.
Did you own the land that was stolen (or traded in a treaty) from your ancestors, or was it already gone before you were born?
If it was "stolen" from you, then you might be owed reparations by the perpetrators.
Yet if you never owned it then technically ALL of us can make such claims. It then becomes a zero sum game.
Now if you try to make it not a zero sum game by tying it to skin color there is a word for that.
Racism. Actual racism, not the knee jerk reaction type of racism.
In terms of slavery every skin color has been slaves in the past, and many still are outside of the U.S. (and illegally some dark corners of the U.S.).
If you want to single out black people. What about all the people who had no ancestors in the U.S. during the times of slavery? What about all of the people that their owner was actually black? You see a lot of black people, including former slaves that were freed, owned slaves.
My skin is most definitely pale and I'd definitely be labeled white. Though my ancestors walked the trail of tears. I have two tribes genetically in my lineage.
Yet I have white skin. So somehow you think someone not white should be repayed by ME and others that look like me for things we did not do? Furthermore, we should be paying it to people that were never actual slaves?
I have white skin. So somehow you think I should repay people who look native for land that was allegedly stolen (in many cases it was, yet some it was given) from their (and my) ancestors? Even though they never owned that land.
If we can claim victim status for what was done to our ancestors then ALL of us can make such claims.
If we can point out perpetrators for crimes done to our ancestors by other ancestors then ALL of us can be called criminals.
While people talk about "institutional racism" which doesn't currently exist in the U.S.(unless you count black only scholarships, black history month, black entertainment network, etc. There are no white versions of that... nor should there be.), reparations as people are currently referring to it would actually create government mandated "institutional racism".
Yet with how much people clamor to support the next politician who lies to them and promises them free stuff (nothing the government provides is free, it is paid for by taxes, or debt) is it really surprising that people who might get "reparations" for things that were not actually done to them are supporting it. To them that is "free" money that they think they don't have to pay for. Yet it comes from taxes. Yet that is okay because it is a redistribution scheme weighted to favor people of specific skin color. Most definitely an obvious example of proposed "institutional racism".
Dunlop and another two companies conspired to buy up/bribe the govern-cement to take apart the rail system in Los Angles. And although it was proved that these companies indeed maliciously destroyed public good for personal profits, the judge awarded $1... because no money could ever be collected, nor could things be returned to before destruction status.
Similarly the FED has destroyed america's middle class.
They are enslaving the world's population.
They should be lined up and shot.
But, we do not know who they are.
And then, what do we do about slaves who could have been freed, but didn't know they were slaves? How do you compensate someone who has put the chains on themselves?
However, we, the collective conscious of america have a psychological debt, and that needs to be worked through.
The warning is that politicians do not want to work at resolving this, they want to profit and profit off of pretending to pay it off.
What americans will find out is that they need an immediate veto power. If you do not like what congress is doing with your money, you stop your payment, NOW. Right now we couldn't even stop it if we tried. Defund the Cocain Import Agency and they will keep on like nothing happened.
We need the ability to see bad things happening, and have the power to stop the bleeding as soon as we recognize the cut. Only then can we avoid more slavery.
We're all currently slaves in one fashion or another........ wake up.
Yep. I know that. Many people don't seem to get that. They also don't see how those promising "free stuff" and them falling for it is simply applying more shackles. EDIT: And if the "wake up" is for me. I've written in depth about that in the past. Yet it is kind of pointless when discussing the push for "reparations" that is currently going on. It may have a point if the point is to side track the reasons you are trying to make them think about reparations on. Being aware of factors and such doesn't mean every factor should be dumped into a single post. That is much like dumping everything into your bowls in your kitchen to make something to eat because they are all food. No one would likely want to eat that food. ;)
Reparations were already paid -- in blood. See Civil War.
You continue to belittle a very serious issue
Again as I told you before, its not as simple as "Were you a slave?"
The descendants of those that went through this vile system deserve every bit of reparation they are entitled to......
I would continue to advocate the need to carefully analyze the facts and look at the current system and how disadvantage these group of people are... Its really good at least we from the Caribbean aren't making an issue of it but still maintain respect and loyalty to the royal family but its history is ugly. Crowns lands still exist and entitlement to royal family still exist, as we speak the royal family is taking a tour of the Caribbean. Why should these benefits be maintained to them but we should ignore the fact of a vile system of the past. Should Haiti continue to pay France? Should the English and Dutch Caribbean continue to pay respect to their respective royal family? The reality, they still do, the Queen is still the Head of State, the people still don't own any land... They own nothing, the parents had nothing to pass on.
You continue to pontificate things that you don't see how bad your judgement and taste on the matter really is. Its painful to even read some of the nonsense you writing. For whatever its worth, there are people still hurting over these facts, lets not melt it down to the racism game or trivial issues. There are young people still searching for answers, lets be careful how we frame argument. I am very careful when I start discussing issues regarding Jews and what they went through and I fully respect not throwing tags and name around that issue. For whatever its worth, please don't move this issue to the level "Were you a slave?" and "Get over it" or "I believe no reparation, so its no reparation".
Lets try to cultivate appreciation on the past and try not to mix to much of the issues but you continue to push these issues, I don't know what what exactly you are trying to prove. As a reminder, while it isn't bitter issue in the Caribbean, people in Africa are still fighting over this matter, its the reason why South Africa is so divided, you also need to understand that these people still feel the pain of the fathers and mothers who never had a voice and wants everything that they should have gotten paid directly to them or their children enjoy the fruits that they fore fathers never got to enjoy. (Upvoted for visibility)
It is a serious issue. However, the politicians in the USA are corrupt. They are like Hugo Chavez offering his citizens so much and then making them so poor. The politicians offering "reparations" have the goal of dividing the USA, printing money, and targeting that money for votes. They USE social issues to justify their corruption and they do not help black people by training them to think of themselves as victims and disabled.
Well I certainly know the game politicians play and the USA with this two party system isn't really a model that has shown it has any moral authority. I am the descendant of Slavery, and I am very proud of it. I really don't know much about my heritage, all i know I am as mix up as they come: African, European and Indian but I predominantly identify as Afro-Caribbean.
People still don't understand how popular Hugo Chavez really is, and the many achievements, I assume you are educated base on western media information so your picture of Hugo Chavez is tainted with Socialism is bad and Chavez was a dictator but please again you need to really come to the Caribbean and go to the rural villages of Venezuela. Our people share a vary similar anti-colonial, anti-imperialist and a deep appreciation of our Afro-heritage. The reason why so many of the leaders that America point as dictator in Latin America and Caribbean ride on the same wave of anti-colonialist and anti-imperialist. You would realize our society is still plague by a class (racism) issue. Venezuela socio-economic problems is nothing new my friend, it was the reason why Hugo Chavez came into power. You need to realize, in the late 80's and throughout the 90's Venezuela face a serious class problem, many felt that the wealth of the country was enjoyed by a few. In fact, many felt that they were not feeling the Bolivarian revolution. Chavez recognized that and were able to ride that wave from the military right up to the Presidency. The first thing he did was put an end to privatization of national resources and redistribution of the wealth from the 1% to the millions of marginalized Venezuelans. For the first time, many Venezuelans were able to own land and have a home. Education became available to every Venezuelan irregardless of the socio-economic status. Chavez was able to bring many Latin American and Caribbean countries to the table and say, I AM GOING TO HELP. They were given preferential Oil and Gas prices that ensured these countries were able to afford and for the first time these government were not left wondering how their budget would meet their growing Oil and Gas demand.
Here where Chavez step on the foot of America and allies by nationalizing Oil blocks given to them under the previous administration privatization drive. With that move, the entire Gulf course of USA felt the impacts, even the refinery located in the Caribbean (Dutch Caribbean> Curacao & Aruba). How could this Afro-Venezuelan man come and cause so much disruption to a very profitable enterprise. That's when the financial blockade started against Venezuela. This is not the first coup in Venezuela, the most open and recent one was in 2002, it failed, after 5 days, the Americans had to abandon their plans as the people took to the streets demanding Chavez return. But I give the USA credit here, the financial blockade continued, intensified under Obama and Trump step on the accelerator. At the moment, Venezuela is completely cut out from the financial system. So before you start pointing fingers at Socialism is a failure, do some digging. The USA again is making a mistake, they are trying to build support for military intervention but now they realize the asset they need aren't giving them support which are the Lima Group. A lot of countries are split, and none wants to have the blood of the people that help them for two decades. The tried to get support in the Caribbean but surprising even to me, only Haiti gave its support, the other islands who usually go with whatever the USA says, basically told them to fuck off. Interesting, immediately after the Haitian President declared support for Guaido his entire country has been demanding he leaves power calling him an American puppet. The western media refuses to bring this coverage.
Again the idea that Socialism is a failure is not correct, look at Norway or other European countries where the nation wealth is spurred into social programs and national planning that benefit the people. This is actually working quite well for the people there. Why would the USA pick out Venezuela, is it a sour score from 20 years ago.
Politicians would continue to play the game, I am not even a fan of Socialism but I have to put the facts out there. My only worry America is increasingly seen as the "imperialist" in the Caribbean and just base on the psychology of the people, even when it means well, people are going to reject them. I think America problem is its foreign policy and what they consider their backyard and the so call 'Munroe' doctrine is going to hurt them. As I continue to say if America does not change, it would soon realize the Caribbean and Latin America would jump into the arms of China which is doubling investment in the region. Its only a matter of the banks in the region developing a channel with the banks in mainland China outside the control of the USA and its really game over. What worries me, is the type of governance in that country,, are we giving up one yolk to accept another... China understand these issues and they realize the sentiment of the people in the region are changing towards the USA, they are playing the cards skillfully. I am only just realizing, the Southern Caribbean which borders Venezuela is one of the richest Hydrocarbob (Oil and Gas) and Geothermal resources areas in the world. For American companies and their growth prospects, this is not the region they would want to give up easily. The reality, these small developing islands do not have the financial resources to develop and monetize these resources, so the Chinese would be hitting the lottery.
How far back can we go with all this reparations business anyway? 100 years 1000 years?
How will we determine who owes what? Who will determine those who profited most and who committed the most nefarious act? The European slave merchants or the Africans who sold off their captives gained in tribal wars?
Basically its a game of, "hey people who look white gimme money."
Yeah... how about go to hell with that nonsense.
The funny thing is that Native Americans had slaves too, before the Europeans showed up. It was pretty common in interactions and wars among the tribes. Land also changed ownership through that same war.
If you are not the victim, then you are owed nothing.
If you were not a slave. Then you are owed nothing due to slavery.
If you were a slave. Then the person(s) who enslaved you are responsible, talk to them about reparations rather than generalizing and stealing from people who had nothing to do with it. That is racism, and the worse thing is it just creates more victims.
Will the people you steal from for your fake reparations at some point in history demand reparations from you for stealing from them for something they didn't do to you?
Slippery slope, and just plain stupid.
It is mostly about people who have spent too much time trying to identify as the victim and having envy who want FREE shit for stuff they imagined they are victims of.
Do you wish to become a slave? Perhaps the indentured servant type? It might be legal if you voluntarily enter it under contract and treat it as some BDSM thing. Then perhaps your reparations will be whatever wages you agree to in the contract once your term is done. Then at least you'd be getting paid for something that ACTUALLY happened.
35 years ago a black kid stole my bike off of my front porch. I'd like the black community that benefitted from this theft to offer reparations for my loss...
It's really that retarded X 10!
Victim mentality guarantees that's what you will always be.
Is our government that rich and intoxicated on political correctness that we need to make reparations for something 200 years ago? This is insane. Let the dead be dead. Thanks @dwinblood
Curated for #informationwar (by @thoughts-in-time)
Ways you can help the @informationwar!
I agree. The criminals should be paying for the crimes, not people who had nothing to do with the "crime".
The same politicians who are offering "reparations" will be paying "reparations" to the banks that fund their campaigns. Our taxes don't pay for much any more. They only allow the government to manage the debt that keeps growing and growing because they keep giving free money to the banks.
What about Israel?