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FreeRepublic , LLC PO BOX 9771 FRESNO, CA 93794
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Posted on 10/07/2002 7:55:29 AM PDT by 1bigdictator
REPARATIONS FOR THE REAL SLAVES? HOW JUSTICE IS SO MISUNDERSTOOD
By: SARTRE
We are in the midst of the political funny season, with the latest pronouncement from the Chicago City Council voting unanimously to require disclosures from companies that held or issued insurance policies covering slaves. The extortion movement for extracting 'so called' reparations from any enterprise that can be labeled a descendant from a century and a half ago speaks more about the distorted collectivist mindset in today's society than any other political attitude. The notion that wrongs can be rectified through monetary compensation is proof positive that the legal eagles, who would be the prime beneficiaries of this scheme, are just as licentious as the slave masters on any plantation.
What is at play defies common sense and scorns history. Slavery has been part of the human condition since the first day that man decided to apply force over the behavior of their neighbor. Servitude is not unique to the plight of the cotton field pickers. Systemic enslavement is the norm, so what makes slaves from Confederate States any more special from the indentured servants that toiled in New England? In today’s world of fabricated guilt, degrees of injustice are constructed to serve political goals that have little or nothing to do with the underlying grievance.
Justification by advocates of the civic engineering ethos is generally based upon the cry for social justice. The meaning of true justice is lost to most, since the bill of goods that is being sold is one that is flawed with deceit and inaccuracy. Justice must be founded upon moral righteousness; fair treatment and due reward or penalty based upon individual conduct. The responsibility for achieving the action is based within each person's behavior. When society extols a contorted communal guilt, the absurdity of the argument is only superseded by the harm that such insults foster additional resentment.
To the point with the clarity of frankness. Who cares about the offenses of past generations when we are embroiled with a continued assault against our own dignity, in the here and now! Only those who are weak, foolish or plain stupid will buy into the scam that society will be cleansed when the sons are held to pay for the sins of the fathers. Those people who live under the demented influence of the con artist that seeks political gain and influence through manipulation and distortion, are the sheeple who make our modern day slavery just as hideous as that served up by the overseer. The pain may not be administered directly by the whip or the submission achieved by the linking of chains, but in today's perverted 'PC' environment, the abuser pursues compliance under the guise of social responsibility.
The same argument holds true for all groups. What makes the Jews special to receive favor in their undertaking to shade fault against all those who do not share their plight or their goals? Are Mexicans anymore deserving compensation for the loss of California because of the westward migration? And who could deny that the tenable claims of Native America having the most merit? But does that translate into a public policy of atonement that includes reparations, paid by the innocents of the current generations?
The reality of past transgression cannot be absolved with the creation of assessed tribute payments that become an additional tax upon blameless citizens. Bill O'Reilly has this one right. When a recent guest said that proponents of slavery reparations want an apology, you know darn well it will not stop there. I’m afraid these companies will be held hostage and eventually will have to pay out money and that will drive up the cost of goods and services that these companies provide. So, in the end the consumer will bear the brunt of this extortion. The real winner in all of this will be the lawyers that are pushing it. Oh, and never mind the fact that 70 percent of Americans think this is the wrong thing to do.
Reparations fostered all kinds of benefits after World War I. Compare the resentment that Germans directed toward the Allies and project what would be the sentiments of faultless Americans when they are forced to pay an insane levy to satisfy the figment of moronic idiots that claim that reparations will eradicate the scars of racism. There are few better examples that demonstrate that equality between peoples is but a fools game. Each person is responsible for their own actions. When groups forgo their own identity and falsely substitute that of the group as that of their own, the results will always cause additional sorrow.
The Elder's on the Chicago City Council are playing a very dangerous game. Heightened division will be the only victor, increased resentment will be its legacy and expanded bondage will only increase to serve the latest master - that of the newest 'PC' obligation. See through this swindle for what it really is . . . a racket that insults us all and betrays the very communities that it proclaims to serve.
"Published originally at EtherZone.com : republication allowed with this notice and hyperlink intact."
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SARTRE is the pen name of a reformed, former political operative. This pundit's formal instruction in History, Philosophy and Political Science served as training for activism, on the staff of several politicians and in many campaigns. He is the content liaison for Ether Zone.
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FreeRepublic , LLC PO BOX 9771 FRESNO, CA 93794
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Are you kidding? I saw the grinning and agreeing Daley and other alderman licking their chops: this little wedge becomes a bludgeon that they can hold over any business considering a move to Chicago (and perhaps many of those currently operating there). Reminds of me Atlas Shrugged where the government agent says "but we want you to break the laws! What good are laws if they can't be used to punish whoever we want?!" or something like that. With punch-card ballots going away, I suspect the Daley machine is looking into the future to find other ways that it can continue to keep the iron-fist control of Chicago politics and all the $ gravey that flows from that control.
2. Subtract that from what they have earned as free Americans since 1865.
3. Substract that difference from the inflation-adjusted value of the labor they performed under slavery.
4. Then subtract from that difference the value of all the hand-outs they've received from the welfare state and "affirmative action."
5. Ask them if they want to pay off what they owe in cash or check.
And as a special consideration, we won't factor in the police/judicial/correctional costs of dealing with their disproportionately huge crime rate. We'll let them slide on the market rate interest as well.
Do we care?
We do.
They are, however, very much moved about by tyranny of the majority -- mob rule. That is why they must put great effort toward harnessing the mob's minds and hearts via an "ends justify the means" modus operandi. Almost all politicians and bureaucrats operate by it.
Two examples: they can never admit the reality that guns don't kill people -- people kill people. They can never admit the reality that drugs don't abuse people -- people abuse themselves. They all violate their oath of office to uphold the constitution. If and when they do appear to stand on honest principle it is usually by accident or convenience -- not out of intent.
Juxtaposition:
The working-class man has a plan. While his work contributes to his prosperity and benefits society, he wants more prosperity and knows that in order to gain more prosperity for himself he must increase his benefit to society. He is one of the somewhat rare men and women that create a business plan. His plan is to create jobs, for he can't do all the work of the business himself.
His business plan when put into action will create jobs which will increase his employees' prosperity and with all those workers injecting more benefits into the marketplace it enables a more prosperous society.
BUT, there's a problem. Despite the man's honorable business plan that strives to gain more for himself and inject more benefits into society, government -- politicians and bureaucrats -- insist that the man use the government's plan.
The government's plan is overlaid on the businessman's plan and forces regulations, taxes and fees on the businessman's business plan. The government's overlay plan diminishes the businessman's goal of creating more jobs and injecting more values into society for which he is rightfully compensated with increased prosperity for himself.
Politicians and bureaucrats literally become parasites surviving off those that create prosperity and well-being for themselves, others and society. Working-class citizens -- from high-risk entrepreneurs to laborers to scientists to farmers -- literally become the host for government parasites.
The mob is growing increasingly restless and the politicians and bureaucrats magician-like illusions -- aided by a complicit media and academics -- are fast being cast aside by the light of fully integrated honesty.
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