Reparations (monetary compensation to slave ancestors)

truroute

What do you guys think about the Gov't or Corporations giving millions, possibly billions of dollars to "pay back" people today whos great great great maybe even greater grandparents were slaves?

Does anyone agree with the whole reparation issue? If so, why?

I personally think that reparations are nothing but a pathetic money grab. Nothing good will come out of it to help racial issues today.

some links:
A quick look at slavery reparations efforts
http://www.mlive.com/newsflash/regional/index.ssf?/base/news-35/1152468561277940.xml&storylist=newsmichigan

some quotes on the question
http://www.nationalcenter.org/Reparations.html

chopitdown

if any people alive today were slaves during the early part of our countries history they are entitled to money. If not, no deal... it's not complicated.

surferdude

truroute wrote:

I personally think that reparations are nothing but a pathetic money grab. Nothing good will come out of it.

You can't apply today's morals to yesterdays actions. Admit the mistake and move on.

RockinInCanada

Don't do it...will end up with a system (up here in Canada) that is based on 100 year old treaties....I agree with surferdude have to admit the mistake and move one....

cornnifer

truroute wrote:

What do you guys think about the Gov't or Corporations giving millions, possibly billions of dollars to "pay back" people today whos great great great maybe even greater grandparents were slaves?

Does anyone agree with the whole reparation issue? If so, why?

I personally think that reparations are nothing but a pathetic money grab. Nothing good will come out of it to help racial issues today.

some links:
A quick look at slavery reparations efforts
http://www.mlive.com/newsflash/regional/index.ssf?/base/news-35/1152468561277940.xml&storylist=newsmichigan

some quotes on the question
http://www.nationalcenter.org/Reparations.html

I have absolutely no problem with the reparations issue. If your great, great, great perhaps greater grandparents had, or were owed ALOT of freaking money, lets say backpay for uncompensated labor, and you, were the living heir, would you not want your duckets? Its as simple as that if you ask me. The majority of wealth in this country is inherited wealth. Its an easy concept to grasp.

RockinInCanada

Plus it would be a bearucratic nightmare determing where the money was to go...totally spelt that word wrong but o'well...

cornnifer

surferdude wrote:

You can't apply today's morals to yesterdays actions. Admit the mistake and move on.

Its not a matter of applying todays morals to yesterdays actions. Its money owed to people unable to claim it on account of them being dead. That means the money is passed on to the living heirs. I ask again if your ancestors had been owed a bunch of ends, but were now dead, would you, their living heir, be o.k with being told to "move on".

chopitdown

cornnifer wrote:

I have absolutely no problem with the reparations issue. If your great, great, great perhaps greater grandparents had, or were owed ALOT of freaking money, lets say backpay for uncompensated labor, and you, were the living heir, would you not want your duckets? Its as simple as that if you ask me. The majority of wealth in this country is inherited wealth. Its an easy concept to grasp.

if we are making up for something in the past then we should pay them the wages that were earned in the past, b/c that is what they earned...some trades only earned 2, 4, 6 dollars per week. If it's about getting what is earned and deserved that is what was earned and deserved at the time. No interest or adjustments for inflation. As soon as we adjust for inflation and today's dollar we are applying todays wages for yesterdays work and that is wrong as well.

decides2dream

cornnifer wrote:

Its not a matter of applying todays morals to yesterdays actions. Its money owed to people unable to claim it on account of them being dead. That means the money is passed on to the living heirs. I ask again if your ancestors had been owed a bunch of ends, but were now dead, would you, their living heir, be o.k with being told to "move on".

i have to agree.
if there is a way to trace it to the proper people, it should be done.
seems the least that can be done to make repparations for such misdeeds.

RockinInCanada

decides2dream wrote:

i have to agree.
if there is a way to trace it to the proper people, it should be done.
seems the least that can be done to make repparations for such misdeeds.

But the problem is determing who would get the money...plus dealing with thousands of which who would not deserve the money at all...would be a nightmare job....

decides2dream

Rockin'InCanada wrote:

But the problem is determing who would get the money...plus dealing with thousands of which who would not deserve the money at all...would be a nightmare job....

simply b/c something might be difficult should not hinder its attempt if it's the right thing to do.

chopitdown

Rockin'InCanada wrote:

But the problem is determing who would get the money...plus dealing with thousands of which who would not deserve the money at all...would be a nightmare job....

i bet most people in the world can trace heritage back to slavery at some point...america, rome, africa, asia...does everyone deserve it? think about ancient egypt there were over a million israelite slaves... if one group gets it everyone should get it...let's all move on.

RockinInCanada

decides2dream wrote:

simply b/c something might be difficult should not hinder its attempt if it's the right thing to do.

In Canada Native Americans currently pay no taxes, get monthly cheques, etc. based upon 100 year old treaties....they still get these privlages today...and in IMHO that is the reason for, lack of better terms, there poor performance (very bad word but whatever) in modern society sadly some have learned to become so dependant on free money they do nothing productive (this is a generalization as I have many native friends who are doing great things and even they say the majority are free loaders which I realate to free money and unhealthy dependancy upon it)handing out free money for things that happened many moons ago will not help anything....it was a different culture back then why should present day citizens pay for what was wrong (yet totally acceptable back then) back then...it will lead to more "money grab" ideas for people who felt they were wronged eons ago...this situation can then be applied to the Japanese forced in camps in WW2 (in Canada we said sorry time to move on though...there was no outcry for cash)...I know the motive is pure and genuine....but at the same time makes no sense to me....

RockinInCanada

chopitdown wrote:

i bet most people in the world can trace heritage back to slavery at some point...america, rome, africa, asia...does everyone deserve it? think about ancient egypt there were over a million israelite slaves... if one group gets it everyone should get it...let's all move on.

It will lead to every group wanting it....for all sort of lame reasons...(this does not imply that slavery is a lame reason)

cornnifer

Rockin'InCanada wrote:

But the problem is determing who would get the money...plus dealing with thousands of which who would not deserve the money at all...would be a nightmare job....

It may be a little difficult. But Its pretty safe to say that just about anyone Black in America is a descendant of African slaves. Might not be quite as hard as you say. Besides, cleaning the shitty satellite outhouses at construction sites is also a nightmare job, but it has to be done, somebody does it.

cornnifer

chopitdown wrote:

i bet most people in the world can trace heritage back to slavery at some point...america, rome, africa, asia...does everyone deserve it? think about ancient egypt there were over a million israelite slaves... if one group gets it everyone should get it...let's all move on.

Yeah, but who said anything about the whole world? Who said the American Government owes reparations to the grandchildren of ancient Egyptian slaves?

decides2dream

Rockin'InCanada wrote:

In Canada Native Americans currently pay no taxes, get monthly cheques, etc. based upon 100 year old treaties....they still get these privlages today...and in IMHO that is the reason for, lack of better terms, there poor performance (very bad word but whatever) in modern society sadly some have learned to become so dependant on free money they do nothing productive (this is a generalization as I have many native friends who are doing great things and even they say the majority are free loaders which I realate to free money and unhealthy dependancy upon it)handing out free money for things that happened many moons ago will not help anything....it was a different culture back then why should present day citizens pay for what was wrong (yet totally acceptable back then) back then...it will lead to more "money grab" ideas for people who felt they were wronged eons ago...this situation can then be applied to the Japanese forced in camps in WW2 (in Canada we said sorry time to move on though...there was no outcry for cash)...I know the motive is pure and genuine....but at the same time makes no sense to me....

i politely agree to disagree.
again, in my mind...if something can be done, then it should be.
as to what you discuss of canada, i have no idea...and i certainly will not wiegh in with an opinion of something i really know zero about.
it may not be easy, but if things can be determined, some true sense of fairness to it, etc.....i think it is worthy to at least consider and attempt reparations of some form.

chopitdown

Rockin'InCanada wrote:

It will lead to every group wanting it....for all sort of lame reasons...(this does not imply that slavery is a lame reason)

my point exactly... It's a slippery slope and a pointless one, imo.

chopitdown

cornnifer wrote:

Yeah, but who said anything about the whole world? Who said the American Government owes reparations to the grandchildren of ancient Egyptian slaves?

I understand your point; I just happen to have a different opinion. Also, there were many african people selling their own countrymen into slavery as well, so I think those countries in Africa should help chip in b/c they contributed to the problem.

RockinInCanada

decides2dream wrote:

i politely agree to disagree.
again, in my mind...if something can be done, then it should be.
as to what you discuss of canada, i have no idea...and i certainly will not wiegh in with an opinion of something i really know zero about.
it may not be easy, but if things can be determined, some true sense of fairness to it, etc.....i think it is worthy to at least consider and attempt reparations of some form.

But is it fair to punish the tax payers living today for what there ancestors did when things were totally acceptable...and like-wise its nice to argue...nicely...:)

cornnifer

chopitdown wrote:

I understand your point; I just happen to have a different opinion. Also, there were many african people selling their own countrymen into slavery as well, so I think those countries in Africa should help chip in b/c they contributed to the problem.

different opinions are great. They make the world, and this board go 'round. No for more of mine...

Those Africans selling their countrymen to American slave traders cannot really be held accountable. We can't really engage in the playground game of "Johnny was throwing sand too! Why doesn't he get detention"? Besides It is The United States that is ultimately responsible for the horror, and It is the United States that grew into the wealthiest country on earth due to the blood, sweat and tears of hundreds of years of completely uncompensated slave labor.