It's (finally) time for reparations. It's time for the US to pay its debt.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Again guys, please realize the Blacks never asked for reparations. The American Government suggested this. Blacks are simply asking for what’s owed to them from government.

What if you were promised something that you never received. Wouldn’t you fight for it?

There was never an official government promise. There was discussion of the idea during Reconstruction, but it went nowhere.

If the standard for government promises is now that whatever idea has been floated for the last 250 years is a promise, I am sure I can find the government owes us all lots of things.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Again guys, please realize the Blacks never asked for reparations. The American Government suggested this. Blacks are simply asking for what’s owed to them from government.

What if you were promised something that you never received. Wouldn’t you fight for it?

Even if what you say is true, the fight that you wish for should have been fought by your ancestors not you more than a hundred years later.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am okay with cash payments, but they may not achieve the goal of closing the wealth gap.

It sounds like the real solution is to help African Americans build wealth. For most Americans, their home is the primary source of wealth. Governments should develop policies to raise home values equitably so more diverse neighborhoods see the same appreciation as whiter neighborhoods. And governments should subsidize and facilitate home purchases instead of providing low-income rental housing.

For example, a county or city could set up a program where it would pay market value for homes and sell to eligible individuals and families. This would be easy for sellers who don't want to deal with staging or marketing their homes, plus no real estate commissions, and it would not carry the same negative aspects of designated low income housing.

Also cities should stop artificially depressing home values (often in minority neighborhoods) under the guise of allowing homeowners to stay in their homes. Sure they can stay, but they are not building wealth.

Great ideas that should be considered.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I absolutely agree that systemic racism in nearly all aspects of society have put African Americans at a significant disadvantage in life. And I think I agree with the essay's assertion that the wealth gap is a fairly large part of why it is hard for public policies to break free of the vicious cycle we're in.

The article spent a lot of time arguing why reparations are important (and perhaps "fair") but didn't make much of an argument that particular types of reparations (such as the cash payments it calls for) would actually help. If anything, the article's assertion that much of this comes down to a wealth gap makes me think that cash payments *wouldn't* help. I don't think it's realistic to think that lump sum payments on that scale would be: 1) politically or financially feasible, or 2) particularly likely to have a long-term impact.

Yes, I’m not sure lump sum payments are the way to go but should be considered. -OP

Congress should fund an assessment.
https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/40

Well, since the article says the wealth gap is the problem, is there some means of changing someone's wealth that isn't a payment?

Maybe equity in home ownership. We should explore options to figure out the most effective way to build wealth.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I absolutely agree that systemic racism in nearly all aspects of society have put African Americans at a significant disadvantage in life. And I think I agree with the essay's assertion that the wealth gap is a fairly large part of why it is hard for public policies to break free of the vicious cycle we're in.

The article spent a lot of time arguing why reparations are important (and perhaps "fair") but didn't make much of an argument that particular types of reparations (such as the cash payments it calls for) would actually help. If anything, the article's assertion that much of this comes down to a wealth gap makes me think that cash payments *wouldn't* help. I don't think it's realistic to think that lump sum payments on that scale would be: 1) politically or financially feasible, or 2) particularly likely to have a long-term impact.

Yes, I’m not sure lump sum payments are the way to go but should be considered. -OP

Congress should fund an assessment.
https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/40

Well, since the article says the wealth gap is the problem, is there some means of changing someone's wealth that isn't a payment?

Maybe equity in home ownership. We should explore options to figure out the most effective way to build wealth.

Were you around in the early 2000s?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I absolutely agree that systemic racism in nearly all aspects of society have put African Americans at a significant disadvantage in life. And I think I agree with the essay's assertion that the wealth gap is a fairly large part of why it is hard for public policies to break free of the vicious cycle we're in.

The article spent a lot of time arguing why reparations are important (and perhaps "fair") but didn't make much of an argument that particular types of reparations (such as the cash payments it calls for) would actually help. If anything, the article's assertion that much of this comes down to a wealth gap makes me think that cash payments *wouldn't* help. I don't think it's realistic to think that lump sum payments on that scale would be: 1) politically or financially feasible, or 2) particularly likely to have a long-term impact.

Yes, I’m not sure lump sum payments are the way to go but should be considered. -OP

Congress should fund an assessment.
https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/40

Well, since the article says the wealth gap is the problem, is there some means of changing someone's wealth that isn't a payment?

Maybe equity in home ownership. We should explore options to figure out the most effective way to build wealth.

I'd be for a bigger mortgage tax break for minorities than for middle-class whites. Although implementing that is also fraught with difficulty, so maybe this would have to turn into a bigger tax break for all low income people (as long as their income wasn't non-taxable municipal bonds, etc).

Meanwhile,financial education in high schools could help.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How much do people think they should get in reparations? How "black" does one need to be to get reparations? If I have a great great grandparent that was black, does that mean I get reparations even if I have a Chinese grandparent and three seemingly white other grandparents? Are we going to genetically test people?

She addresses eligibility in her essay.

Perhaps you can share that information then because doing a find on “eligibility” turns up nothing. Again, how much MONEY do you want?

Perhaps you can read it.

It’s a freaking manifesto that’s way TLDR.

It’s filled with great points and data that everyone should read.

But I think that reparations paid to people who are not the ones who were injured is morally and ethically wrong. She doesn't convince me that it is the moral thing to do.

There are social and utilitarian reasons to help black Americans including by such efforts as affirmative action (which has varied over the decades) and preferential hiring as well as the programs for all Americans including public education, welfare, Medicaid and Medicare and Social Security, etc. But targeted reparations to people who were harmed by slavery/the failure of Reconstruction/Jim Crow/redlining/racial discrimination is a mushy concept that is problematic for many reasons, practical (which can be overcome) and ethical.

I disagree with her premise.

Black people in the US today ARE harmed all of the various forms of white supremacy over the past 400 years - from slavery to Jim Crow to redlining to systemic racism.

Time to make amends.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I absolutely agree that systemic racism in nearly all aspects of society have put African Americans at a significant disadvantage in life. And I think I agree with the essay's assertion that the wealth gap is a fairly large part of why it is hard for public policies to break free of the vicious cycle we're in.

The article spent a lot of time arguing why reparations are important (and perhaps "fair") but didn't make much of an argument that particular types of reparations (such as the cash payments it calls for) would actually help. If anything, the article's assertion that much of this comes down to a wealth gap makes me think that cash payments *wouldn't* help. I don't think it's realistic to think that lump sum payments on that scale would be: 1) politically or financially feasible, or 2) particularly likely to have a long-term impact.

Yes, I’m not sure lump sum payments are the way to go but should be considered. -OP

Congress should fund an assessment.
https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/40

Well, since the article says the wealth gap is the problem, is there some means of changing someone's wealth that isn't a payment?

Maybe equity in home ownership. We should explore options to figure out the most effective way to build wealth.

Were you around in the early 2000s?

Give equity, not predatory lending.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So we have that same racist Chinese immigrant pp going on and on about his tough life, and why he supports Trump. I called him a deplorable on another thread and I am calling him deplorable here too. Why Jeff did not block him years ago is beyond me.
So insane he is that he is in favor of Trump to avoid dictatorship regime!

Different Chinese poster.

Back in China, we don't have the same sort of social services you see here. You can't go any work anywhere you want, purchase property or have your kids go to public school anywhere you want legally, you are actually tied to a certain area via the Hukuo, or residency system. This has lead to a huge problem of urban poverty as the government was trying not to let everyone move to the cities, and massive abuse of migrants who do move.

Average classroom size in China is usually well over 50 kids, though many of my classes as a child had 80+ kids. The government didn't provide us with free lunch, IEPs etc. In the college system you have to test into your major and school. You can't easily change majors. Corruption is much higher on all levels.

If you grow up in this country, you've hit the global lottery. There are huge advantages that many should take advantage of here, but don't. This is why we sign up for every eligble program we can once we come here, so our kids are well fed and taken care of so they can focus on academics.

I get that. But, surely the above pp ought to understand that we are not in Olympics of "who had it worse" and that it is liberals that are working towards improving the wealth gap, at least a little bit, here. Given what you just wrote, how does it make sense that all he wants to do is elect another oppressor? I am from former Yugoslavia, we had it good and then bad, and I know exactly how much education availability is responsible for advancing in life. I was born in a major city and had access to the best grammar schools. Many of people from our villages are still voting for dictators and nationalists. Nothing from the war, and ethnic cleansing there penetrated that this was bad, that having nationalists, like Trump, leads to war, more poverty and that political leaders got rich at the expense of the poor people. I think this is why I am in disbelief that a person who experience similar in China, is here and a staunch Trump supporter to "protect" personal freedom. Plus a racist. I guess he loves what he is familiar with, oppression and lack of racial equality. All he needs to do is read a couple of books and listen to few podcasts. Imagine a person in rural China that doesn't know how to sign up for programs, now put them in extreme poverty here. When I immigrated here, I paid for my own college. I had no idea that I could qualify for student aid. None. Yes, I was ignorant to even go to the financial office! I got some money only after it was awarded to me by the college due to my GPA. I am not embarrassed to say this, I was very young and had never heard of financial aid in my country. So, yes, I think I do understand what not having an education and being poor means, even here.

[Anonymous]

Health outcomes have declined for black people since the 1960s. There are theories why that is true today but no one is considering why health outcomes were better for black people in the 50s than today. This author is also not considering it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I absolutely agree that systemic racism in nearly all aspects of society have put African Americans at a significant disadvantage in life. And I think I agree with the essay's assertion that the wealth gap is a fairly large part of why it is hard for public policies to break free of the vicious cycle we're in.

The article spent a lot of time arguing why reparations are important (and perhaps "fair") but didn't make much of an argument that particular types of reparations (such as the cash payments it calls for) would actually help. If anything, the article's assertion that much of this comes down to a wealth gap makes me think that cash payments *wouldn't* help. I don't think it's realistic to think that lump sum payments on that scale would be: 1) politically or financially feasible, or 2) particularly likely to have a long-term impact.

Yes, I’m not sure lump sum payments are the way to go but should be considered. -OP

Congress should fund an assessment.
https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/40

Well, since the article says the wealth gap is the problem, is there some means of changing someone's wealth that isn't a payment?

Maybe equity in home ownership. We should explore options to figure out the most effective way to build wealth.

I'd be for a bigger mortgage tax break for minorities than for middle-class whites. Although implementing that is also fraught with difficulty, so maybe this would have to turn into a bigger tax break for all low income people (as long as their income wasn't non-taxable municipal bonds, etc).

Meanwhile, financial education in high schools could help.

How would black people living in poverty today with no job prospects get a mortgage?

Financial literacy is important for everyone. Doesn’t do much good when you don’t have any money.

There is no magical way to transform no wealth into great wealth simply by learning more about how to manage one’s money.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I absolutely agree that systemic racism in nearly all aspects of society have put African Americans at a significant disadvantage in life. And I think I agree with the essay's assertion that the wealth gap is a fairly large part of why it is hard for public policies to break free of the vicious cycle we're in.

The article spent a lot of time arguing why reparations are important (and perhaps "fair") but didn't make much of an argument that particular types of reparations (such as the cash payments it calls for) would actually help. If anything, the article's assertion that much of this comes down to a wealth gap makes me think that cash payments *wouldn't* help. I don't think it's realistic to think that lump sum payments on that scale would be: 1) politically or financially feasible, or 2) particularly likely to have a long-term impact.

Yes, I’m not sure lump sum payments are the way to go but should be considered. -OP

Congress should fund an assessment.
https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/40

Well, since the article says the wealth gap is the problem, is there some means of changing someone's wealth that isn't a payment?

Maybe equity in home ownership. We should explore options to figure out the most effective way to build wealth.

I'd be for a bigger mortgage tax break for minorities than for middle-class whites. Although implementing that is also fraught with difficulty, so maybe this would have to turn into a bigger tax break for all low income people (as long as their income wasn't non-taxable municipal bonds, etc).

Meanwhile, financial education in high schools could help.

How would black people living in poverty today with no job prospects get a mortgage?

Financial literacy is important for everyone. Doesn’t do much good when you don’t have any money.

There is no magical way to transform no wealth into great wealth simply by learning more about how to manage one’s money.

Yes, of course there is. Everyone started there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Health outcomes have declined for black people since the 1960s. There are theories why that is true today but no one is considering why health outcomes were better for black people in the 50s than today. This author is also not considering it.

Redlining made it more difficult to receive health care, find healthy food options, etc.

Additional current harm.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I absolutely agree that systemic racism in nearly all aspects of society have put African Americans at a significant disadvantage in life. And I think I agree with the essay's assertion that the wealth gap is a fairly large part of why it is hard for public policies to break free of the vicious cycle we're in.

The article spent a lot of time arguing why reparations are important (and perhaps "fair") but didn't make much of an argument that particular types of reparations (such as the cash payments it calls for) would actually help. If anything, the article's assertion that much of this comes down to a wealth gap makes me think that cash payments *wouldn't* help. I don't think it's realistic to think that lump sum payments on that scale would be: 1) politically or financially feasible, or 2) particularly likely to have a long-term impact.

Yes, I’m not sure lump sum payments are the way to go but should be considered. -OP

Congress should fund an assessment.
https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/40

Well, since the article says the wealth gap is the problem, is there some means of changing someone's wealth that isn't a payment?

Maybe equity in home ownership. We should explore options to figure out the most effective way to build wealth.

I'd be for a bigger mortgage tax break for minorities than for middle-class whites. Although implementing that is also fraught with difficulty, so maybe this would have to turn into a bigger tax break for all low income people (as long as their income wasn't non-taxable municipal bonds, etc).

Meanwhile, financial education in high schools could help.

How would black people living in poverty today with no job prospects get a mortgage?

Financial literacy is important for everyone. Doesn’t do much good when you don’t have any money.

There is no magical way to transform no wealth into great wealth simply by learning more about how to manage one’s money.

Yes, of course there is. Everyone started there.

No, everyone didn’t start there. That’s the whole point.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Health outcomes have declined for black people since the 1960s. There are theories why that is true today but no one is considering why health outcomes were better for black people in the 50s than today. This author is also not considering it.

Redlining made it more difficult to receive health care, find healthy food options, etc.

Additional current harm.

Incorrect. You need to read up on this.