This lily white guy thinks that reparations should be made to Black Americans.

[thereismore]

God knows their ancestors worked to make white man rich and never got paid fairly for their labor. Even those whose ancestors were free, suffered under institutional racism until recent times. Even now, Black Americans are dying in the streets at the hands of trigger happy and, yes, often racist, policemen. How can America ever make this right? I know none of you did this to our brothers and sisters, but the great debt is there and we should be talking about it.

Bernie was ambushed by BLM and later by questions about reparations. He did his best but his message of income equality and fairness does not heal the wound of racial injustice that has been going on in this country for hundreds of years. It is the private opinion of this white supporter of Bernie's that he needs to broaden his message beyond mere income and economic fairness to address race apart from simple economy. Only then will he be able to make significant gains among African Americans. There is still time.

If we're talking about a revolution, let's make it a revolution.

[whathehell]

1. This lily white woman agrees with you.

Centuries of forced labor and a hundred years of Jim Crow? Absolutely.

[FLPanhandle]

2. Quick way to lose the nomination.

This Bernie supporter would switch to Hillary if he came out for reparations and so would millions of others.

Do you want him to lose?

[whathehell]

41. Why?

Native Americans got reparations in the form of their own lands -- Why shouldn't African-Americans be granted something similar?

[Nye Bevan]

3. So Clarence Thomas and Ben Carson would each receive a check,

while a poor white single mother struggling to pay the medical bills for her sick kids would get nothing?

This is a monumentally stupid idea and would be the ultimate vote-loser.

[jonno99]

17. ^^ this ^^

[Yupster]

22. Does the President get a check?

He has unlimited income potential and no slave ancestors.

Should a Denny's waitress pay taxes for that cause?

[Nye Bevan]

24. Biracial, so I'm not sure if he would get a check for half the normal amount? (nt)

[Boudica the Lyoness]

34. Almost all black Americans

have European DNA right? That means the chances are their ancestors were slave owners.

[Travis_0004]

4. Question

Does every black person get the. Even if your dad is an investment banker. What if your family moved here in tbe 80's and you have no slaves in your family history?

What about the native americans?

How do we pay for it, and how much does everybody get.

Once everybody gets their check and blows their money can we tell them to get over it?
Who is going to judge who is black enough?

[thereismore]

7. Some of this is difficult to solve but we should discuss it.

"Blow their money" sounds a bit prejudicial don't you think?

[Travis_0004]

10. No

Just look at past lottery winners. Most of them end up bankrupt. If you gave a big check out most people of any race would blow it all in a few years.

[thereismore]

16. Well, what else do you want to do with money anyway. nt

[pnwmom]

5. I'd want to know more about the specifics. nt

[NobodyHere]

6. How much are you willing to pony up?

And after the reparations are paid will all be forgiven and no more complaining about the past?

[thereismore]

9. I think that would have to be part of the deal, yes. nt

[Reter]

8. Do any high-ranking Democrats support this?

Any?

[thereismore]

12. It's my opinion. I realize this is an electoral kryptonite. We should address it tho.

[Duckhunter935]

13. I have not heard of any

[thesquanderer]

31. Conyers is as close as you get

https://pjmedia.com/blog/conyers-reintroduces-reparations-effort/

[Duckhunter935]

11. let's here your plan

Just who get this and how much?

[thereismore]

14. We are the richest country on Earth. We can figure something out. nt

[Duckhunter935]

15. except the debt we are racking up every

Day.

[pintobean]

18. The national debt is now over 19 trillion.

It's mind boggling.

http://www.aol.com/article/2016/02/02/the-national-debt-climbs-above-19-trillion/21306383/

[Duckhunter935]

20. yep, I do not see how

We can ever fix it

[Yupster]

21. The problem is that interest rates will eventually go up

At 0 % interest, we can have a $ 19 trillion debt.

A 3 % rise will add $ 570 billion per year interest payments on the debt. We don't happen to have an extra $ 570 billion in the budget.

It really is a disaster that no one is talking about.

[Yupster]

23. The richest country

that owes $ 19 trillion.

Let's borrow another few trillion. What difference does it make.

[Ford F-150]

19. Put you money where your mouth is...

How much are you willing to pay?

[thereismore]

26. Some. We should talk about it now before we forever hold our peace.

Otherwise it'll always be there.

[linuxman]

30. It will always be there.

I can't hit a guy's grandfather in the face, hand him $5 and pretend it didn't happen.

[Ford F-150]

33. So talk...

How much are you going to pay?

[Terra Alta]

25. What about Native Americans?

My ancestors had their land stolen and had their identity and culture taken from them, and to this day many Native Americans all over the US live in poverty and are often victims of violence.

FTR, I'm not in favor of reparations of any kind.

[thereismore]

27. That is a good point. Sometimes when I see Indian casinos

I think this is how white man is paying for the injustices done to Native Americans.

[tularetom]

28. I believe everyone in this country who was brought here as a slave should get reparated

Not your father, not your grandfather, not nobody else but you. If you were brought to America against your will as a slave, you deserve something. Otherwise, bupkis. Of course you'd have to be at least 209 years old, since the importation of slaves was banned in 1807.

And after we reparate all the living former slaves, we should look into doing something for the people we actually stole this country from.

[linuxman]

29. LOL, no.

Does every black person get a check? What about the ones with slave-owning ancestors? What about ones who have no slave ancestors? What percentage black do you need to be? One drop rule, or is it prorated based on DNA composition? Is it just to offset slavery, or are we reaching into more recent civil rights issues? If so, are we going to be paying reparations to each subsequent generation of blacks who feel as if they were treated poorly? Are Native Americans and Asians getting them? Jews? Italians? The Irish? America has no shortage of mistreatment in its past, varying from outright genocidal to insulting and inconvenient. How do you determine the base amount of reparations for each group?

Everybody likes to virtue signal and beat their chest over reparations, but nobody seems to be able to draw a line based on criteria, much less justify it. All the money in the world isn't going to undo the past.

[romanic]

36. Well said!

[pipoman]

32. Just nonsense....nothing to see here....

[Garrett78]

35. Historical injustices still linger.

From slavery to Jim Crow, the impact of institutionalized racism (and crimes against humanity) impacts the present. For instance, black GIs weren't eligible for all provisions of the GI Bill. Black folks weren't eligible for all provisions of Social Security. Black folks weren't able to purchase housing that would appreciate in value. Employment discrimination. And on and on and on. All of that impacts the present and contributes greatly to the wealth gap. Not to mention ongoing structural racism.

Politically expedient or not, the argument for reparations (which can come in a variety of forms) is strong. Representative Conyers has repeatedly put forth a bill that simply calls for a study on the matter. That such a bill isn't popular with Congress is no reason to not advocate for it.

2 articles that everyone ought to read:

http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2014/06/the-case-for-reparations/361631/

http://www.research.ucsb.edu/cbs/xsite/lectures/legacy/Dodson.html

[CBGLuthier]

37. How black do you have to be? Can we use the old one drop rule because I could sure use the money.

It is never going to happen. Never. It should have happened 150 years ago. it didn't. It will never happen.

[scarletlib]

38. As a Southern lily white woman I also agree with you.

I always start these these discussions by disclosing that my ancestors have been in the South (Tennessee) since the 1700's. They were there during the Civil War. We haven't done the deep research to determine if any ever owned slaves. They were never wealthy people but they would still benefit from the system.

I have read and continue to read extensively on the history of slavery and racism in this nation. There is a lot of new work being done that delves deeply into the horribleness and devastating effects of racism and slavery.

I am not sure we can ever make things right but we have to try. We should try. We built this country on the backs and bodies of black people. It didn't end after the Civil War. Our very capitalistic society was deeply involved both North and South in this.

We have systematically made it difficult for African Americans. We excluded them from jobs, unions, housing, mortgages,and even whole towns (Sundown Towns). SSA programs were originally designed to exclude jobs traditionally held by African Americans We ghettoized them and then complained about their living choices.

When that wasn't enough we burned their towns and homes, lynched and murdered them.

I'm not saying we should give away 'free' money or neglect others in society who may need help.

I do think we owe it to all of ourselves to try to right a horrendous wrong to our brothers and sisters.

[Adrahil]

39. I personally don't see how this can possibly help.

You want to spend money redressing racial injustice? I'm all for that. Let's invest in black communities and create good paying jobs. Cut checks? Not so much.

[WhaTHellsgoingonhere]

40. I live in Chicago. I see what's going on. This is what you do.

From the loop to Wrigleyville--the north side--there's nothing but cranes and road construction. Gentrification is moving its tentacles further north and west forcing long-time residents out of their neighborhoods. In other words, more neighbors for white residents, small businesses, and trendy restaurants.

On the southside--the neglected black side of town--liquor stores and school closings. No economy and no investment. So what you do with all that reparations money is, you hire all black contractors. No contracts given to whites, they have had all the business for the past century. Then you rebuild the southside. Jobs and money flow in supporting small businesses and restaurants. Bring the schools and safe havens back. But rather than gentrify, enforce strict rent controls so that blacks are able to stay in their homes.

Jobs, businesses, education, investment. Rahm is building a massive multipurpose arena that no one wanted for his alma mater, DePaul, downtown. Chicago State University could use a multipurpose arena.

[thereismore]

42. Now that's something we should be doing.

Maybe reparations don't have to be in the form of money to individuals. If Black leaders got behind this plan I think we could do this. I'm in.

[whathehell]

44. Thank you. Reparations don't necessarily mean individual checks..

In addition to your suggestions, most if not all, of the money could go to institutions serving African-Americans like historically Black colleges, The Urban League, etc.

[NaturalHigh]

43. I find it amazing that I've never owned a slave...

but I'm asked to pay for the sins of a century and a half ago.

Take it somewhere else. I vote no.

[Lizzie Poppet]

45. Only if it's the 1% who pays it.

No one else can fucking afford it.