Reparations: TANSTAAFL

Project 21 ^ | 5.10.02 | Michael King

[Centurion2000]

That's right. Slavery was legal in the United States for only 89 years. It may not have been right in the eyes of God, but it was right and legal in the eyes of the law of the era. Should the government apologize for slavery? Yes and no.

Actually they don't even need to apologize for it. True slavery was (and still is) a crime in the eyes of God, but if you want to direct your wrath somewhere point it back at Africa where slavery is practiced to this day, and to Saudi Arabia (where it was legal until 1968 I believe).

The American blacks in this country, while their ancestors worked, bled and died in slavery, are the recipients of an excellent inheritance; they are here and not in Africa.

Also I think 600,000 dead from the Civil War repaid in blood any debt that was owed to the slaves.

You are absolutely correct in one thing though; TANSTAAFL :)

[WFTR]

First, this is a great commentary.

Secondly, this statement You don't see the government apologizing for not granting women the legal right to vote prior to 1920. is not entirely true. In the late 1700's and early 1800's, many states allowed women to vote. Eventually, the attitude became that every family had one vote, and the man who headed the family cast the vote for that family. In this sense, denying women the vote was in no way morally equivalent to the wrongs of slavery. In some states, women who headed a family (typically widows) would cast the vote for their family unit. I believe at the time that the amendment was passed giving all women the vote, several states had already granted women the right to vote. You may already know all of this, and it doesn't lessen the point of the commentary. However, sometimes these details can be helpful in an argument.

WFTR
Bill

[PMCarey]

I highly recommend The Moon is a Harsh Mistress - arguably Heinlein's best novel. There's also a wonderful passage from Heinlein's The Cat Who Walked Through Walls about how air on a Lunar colony is not free, though it appears that way to that society's sponges.

[lizma]

Great essay and thank you.
Every demorat I know, black or white, thinks this is just plain silly. Why do these people still cling to it??

I do alot of education activism. Two things make my blood boil.

First, the black community complaint of low expectections of their children goes unheeded. (And I live in the Peoples Republic of Maryland!)

Second is the kind of black pop culture thing that to get good grade in high school is a "white" thing. (We're going through this with my nephew. He and his sister are are adopted, sorta, long story) (Straight A's in a private school, but did a masive bail out in public high school. I could throttle him!)

I get so angry listening to these "leaders" complain about few hundred bucks and then turn their backs on education
They're scum.

[Lazamataz]

G-d bless you, ma'am. Your activism with education, where you make a difference, will be the single greatest benefit to your race. Education is the key to prosperity.

[yazd]

I've already done the math -- it would free up less than 2% of the nations federal land.

Don't know about your math, but here's my (ballpark) math for your proposal: There are about 280,000,000 U.S. citizens, about 15% of whom are black. That makes about 40,000,000 blacks. If each of black is to get 40 acres for reprations, then that would be 1,600,000,000 acres. There are 625 acres in a square mile so we're talking 2,700,000 square miles of land. If the lower 48 states occupy about 3,000 miles by 1,000 miles, or 3,000,000 square miles, then we're talking close to all of it.

Did I misplace a decimal or miss something?

[sleavelessinseattle]

Yes Indeed! I recognized that Acronym right away! Niven's update TANJ hasn't had as wide a reading I'd wager...I'll leave it out for people to "spell out". Great article- have to go with the what ugly mug crowd, Michael;-) My opinion might not mean much as most of my friends have suggested I get a job as a stamp at a monster cookie factory! Have you gotten around to the Cyber punk Authors and/or Simmons?

[TN Republican]

That is a genius idea, Laz, but I have one question - Where will we get all the mules?

[drlevy88]

If not enough mules to go around, maybe a donkey (Democrat) would care to volunteer?

[lizma]

Actually I'm white but my extended family runs the gambit.
Our goal is that in the next 2 generations we encompass every race, creed, religion, and writing style ever known to man.

[RWCon]

Time.com Jenin Poll This poll needs lots of freeping. The pali-sympathizers are casting 500 votes a second claiming they believe there's been a massacre. Freep often and lots of.

Just how many times to you think would be fair?

How did you arrive at the 500 votes per second?

And what is this bit of propaganda doing here?

[RightWhale]

In Alaska the Alaska Natives got 160 acres each with ANCSA.

[yazd]

In Alaska the Alaska Natives got 160 acres each with ANCSA.

OK ... how many Alaskan Natives are you talking about? The entire population of Alaksa in 2000 was only 625,000 (native and otherwise) as compared to roughly 40,000,000 blacks in the lower 48.

More fuzzy math?

[Post Toasties]

That's right. Slavery was legal in the United States for only 89 years. It may not have been right in the eyes of God, but it was right and legal in the eyes of the law of the era. Should the government apologize for slavery? Yes and no.

Plus, I have read that most states north of the Mason-Dixon Line passed laws restricting or eliminating slavery within their borders by soon after 1800 which tells me that there was widespread sentiment against slavery at least in the North all along.

[infowarrior]

Nope, that acronym has been around for a while. The "science fiction" reference that Mr King cites is the use of the acronym by the late Robert Heinlein in his novel "The Moon is a Harsh Mistress", which dates back to at least the early 70's (when I first read it.)

the infowarrior

[infowarrior]

I highly recommend The Moon is a Harsh Mistress, arguably Heinlein's best novel...

No argument from yours truly. I've always rated it as his best...

the infowarrior

[Free Trapper]

Well said.;o)

[nopardons]

YOU wrote this ? It's brilliant ; well thought out, well written, and right on the money ! Thank you for posting it. : - )

[backhoe]

Each and every time someone mentions reparations, enthusiastically agree. Tell them each and every black person -- or even any person who is slighty tan from a little exposure to sun in June -- should get 40 acres.

Of FEDERAL land...

Son offa Gun! Laz, I think you might have cut the Gordian Knot with this one. I'll pass it on...

[eddie willers]

LONG LIVE (MY VERSION OF) REPARATIONS!!!! :o)

With a little work, I'll vote for it myself.
I'd rather Little Richard Penniman have that land than Little Richard Gephardt