Better idea: The U.S. government should have disolved in 1988, paid the Japanese their share, paid off the debt, paid reparations to African Ameicans, Naties, etc. I don’t care if I don’t get nothing, so long as the government commits suicide.

Why should the evil U.S. government not apologize? Wouldn’t it be appropriate for a U.S. corporation to apologize for working with the Nazis? How is the federal government different from a corporation, with its elected officials much like officers?

An apology, of course, would be/is meaningless, since the same entity continues to shamelessly perpetuate evil all over the world. Kinda like a serial killer apologizing to the families of one victim, while in the process of murdering another!

And if they want to “apologize” on behalf of white Americans, then I will tell them where to shove it. I will not allow my ostensibly representative government to say “I’m sorry” for me when I haven’t done anything wrong. I don’t know the dead slaves from Adam, and had no ancestors who were here to own them, so there is absolutely no reason I should apologize. Nor will I apologize to the Indians, Mexicans, Hawaiians, or any other ethnic group. Neither myself nor the government currently in power owes these groups anything. They are just human groups, like any other, with too many loathsome individuals looking for handouts and somewhere to place blame for their failures in life.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=93059465

Now I understand the logistical difficulty of disbursing funds to families affected, but I for crying out loud. How about an apology at least. I know it can’t undo what’s been done or its massive reprecussions, but come on. No apology at least?

While we’re at it, the U.S. government should apologize for the genocide of the Native Americans. Countries such as Canada, Australia, and New Zealand have already apologized to the indigenous peoples in those countries. Let’s put it on the record for future generations.

Can yo imagine the bureaucacy needed to sort this thing out . . . who pays, who doesn’t, how much to pay to whom, and who should receive how much!

Yeah, let’s leave this to the most inefficient, unjust organization ever devised, the largest agent of coercion and force . . . government!!!

Good luck with that.

Typically, the person wins an amount that is on the order of $50,000 to $75,000 for each year of imprisonment. Then the state says that it ‘s cost to keep them imprisoned was around $30,000 per year, and this amount is deducted.

If reparations does become a reality, will there be deductions for the free trip over here, free housing and food, guaranteed jobs for life, etc.?

You can’t underestimate the vulgarity of some people.

PEACE
Steve

I disagree with Sivarticus that the Green Party is becoming the New Black Panther Party. or maybe I don’t- that depends on if he means a new version of the old Black Panther party or the actual New Black Panther Party ( I just caught that distinction). I don’t know much about the NBPP but I think the old Black Panther Party was awesome.

I like some of the things which Cynthia McKinney supports, but this is a good reason to NOT vote for her.

Frankly–the whole thing is theoretical. First, the slave-descdendent has to find out who his slave-ancestor was,and who owned him. Then he has to determine who the descendent of that slave-owner was. Then he’d have to determine that the descendent somehow profitted from his ancestor’s holdings. Then he’d have to show that he did not similarly profit from the slave-holding. And also that the assets left behind were DIRECTLY transferable to said descendent.

Yes, I agree. I said that above.

So if my grandfather made 1million off of these slaves and then died,leaving 1million to my father,who then reinvested that million into silver bonds, which tripled his holdings. Is this 3 million dollars open to claim? Or only the original 1 million in silver-bonds? Or are those silver-bonds now untouchable because they are not the EXACT asset gained from said slaves?

Frankly–the whole thing is theoretical. First, the slave-descdendent has to find out who his slave-ancestor was,and who owned him. Then he has to determine who the descendent of that slave-owner was. Then he’d have to determine that the descendent somehow profitted from his ancestor’s holdings. Then he’d have to show that he did not similarly profit from the slave-holding. And also that the assets left behind were DIRECTLY transferable to said descendent.

So the questions are:

1. Were slaves victims who were owed compensation?

2. If so, then why are their heirs not entitled?

These are separate questions from the question “Who is to pay?”

Now let’s say the 1,000 slaves all continued to live near the plantation, and intermarried exclusively within that pool of 1,000.

Question: Would the direct descendants of those 1,000 slaves have a claim on your assets?

If not, why not?

My father told me once when I was a boy that there were slave owners in my family tree. I don’t know if it’s true or not. I do know that I have no estate. Nothing from those days was passed on to me. Everything I have now, I earned on my own. I do not believe anyone is entitled to my property over something that may or may not have occured 200 years ago. Does this stand mean I’m not a libertarian in your eyes?

Nexus: Did you read my post? I’m guessing not.

Now the question is whether these claims can be sorted out. Can an individual prove he is the descendant of a slave, and can he identify the estate of his ancestor’s aggressor? Can he prove, at least by civil standards, that his ancestors, in a direct line, intended him to collect on the judgment they were owed? Can he approve that the aggressor’s estate has been transferred?

If no, then there is no basis for claims to be paid.

But yes, if you disagree with the first four points, then I don’t see how you can possibly be a libertarian.

Do aggressors owe those they aggress against compensation?

Is the title to that compensation a transferable asset (property)?

If you can’t answer yes to both of those questions, then no, you’re not a libertarian in my eyes (or anyone else’s who has any kind of standards).

My ancestors came from Ireland a little over 100 years ago. They did not own slaves.

However, if they had come over 200 years ago and owned slaves–no one would be prying my money from my hands to give to someone iv never met, harmed, or wished ill upon. That my great-great-grandfather hurt your great-great-grandfather has nothing to do with me or you. You were born into a nation where if you work hard enough, you make money. And you are afforded the same (in some cases, more) chances as me. For me to have to “pay” you for the historical injustices against your people is absurd. Are these same people going to send their lawyers to Africa to find out which black African sold their ancestors into slavery too? No. This is reverse-racism in action.

A few people have talked about how this would be implemented. That I do not know or have yet to figure out. It is very complicated.

I feel that the first step would be to pass H.R. 40 which authorizes a study of reparations. At least then we would have a starting point.

I believe that we must initially recognize that this is a just thing to do. From there we (all parties involved) can start discussing the fair implementation of reparations.

Discussion is a good thing. A well done study to base it on is a really helpful tool.

Gotta run….

So we’re all guilty of oppression and slavery and we all owe each other reparations. Wonderful, it’s a wash, done deal. And if you don’t believe that and think we need to enslave our current labor to pay descendents then at least its hard to disagree that the aggressors were first the individuals that did it and then the Democratic, Whig, Republican etc. parties and that they used government as a weapon and should held accountable. Government is absolved for blame every election.